WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1029/96 by Johannes BLOKLAND to the Commission. World chess championship in Baghdad
Date: 1996-04-23
Institutions: BLOKLAND, European Parliament
Subjects: Iraq, gaming, human rights, international sanctions













EUR-Lex - 91996E1029 - EN






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91996E1029

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1029/96 by Johannes BLOKLAND to the Commission. World chess championship in Baghdad  


Official Journal C 297 , 08/10/1996 P. 0070 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1029/96 by Johannes Blokland (EDN) to the Commission (23 April 1996)Subject: World chess championship in BaghdadMr Kirsan Iliumzhinov, president of FIDE (World Chess Federation), has decided to designate Baghdad, capital of Iraq and seat of Saddam Hussein's regime, as the venue for FIDE's world chess championship.This decision has caused considerable unrest in the chess world:- because of the economic boycott of Iraq by the United Nations,- because of the way in which the chess tournament can be exploited for political purposes by Saddam Hussein's regime, and- because of the harm which could be done to the image of chess if this world championship is held in Baghdad.It is expected that the KNSB (Royal Netherlands Chess Federation) will convene a meeting on 27 and 28 April in order to take joint action with other European member organizations with a view to reversing FIDE's decision.In the light of the continuing acts of violence by the Iraqi regime, is the Commission prepared to make known to FIDE and the European zone of FIDE its concern at designating Baghdad as the venue for the world championship?Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1996)The Commission is able to confirm the Honourable Member's information and shares his concern that the President of the International chess federation scheduled a chess world championship contest to take place between Mr Karpov and Mr Kampsky in Baghdad in June 1996.The Commission believes that it is most inappropriate to organise such a prestigious international event in a country that was once again condemned on 23 April 1996 by the 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on human rights (resolution introduced by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union as in preceding years) for its constant and severe human rights violations.Although under the United Nations sanctions regime imposed upon Iraq since its invasion of Kuwait in 1990 there is no specific mention of sports and cultural activities, the Commission is of the opinion that the organisation of the chess world championship in Baghdad is probably in violation of the services embargo imposed upon Iraq under United Nations sanctions. In any event, it would be likely to have negative political consequences by contradicting the international community's efforts to pressure the Iraqi government to apply the rule of law, respect human rights and renounce its policy of menacing neighbouring states.Therefore the Commission takes note with satisfaction that efforts are currently under way to identify an alternative venue for the world championship tournament in the Russian Federation or another suitable place. The Commission endorses these efforts and trusts that the President of the International chess federation will follow national chess member federations' initiatives and review his decision regarding the location of the next world championship as soon as possible.The Commission will continue to follow further developments on this issue very closely.