Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20
Trend:
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has today received members of Azerbaijani national men`s chess team, who won European championship, and specialists.
Congratulating the chess players and specialists on the victory, President Ilham Aliyev said that this win will have its own place in the European chess history.
The Head of State said national leader Heydar Aliyev established strong chess traditions in 1970s, and stimulated the development of chess in Azerbaijan`s regions.
The Azerbaijani President noted that in the years of independence this tradition was restored and developed, with state-of-the-art chess schools put into operation in the regions.
Underlining Azerbaijan`s victories in high-profile international tournaments, President Ilham Aliyev stressed the importance of the Azerbaijani national team`s becoming the European champions for the second time. The Azerbaijani President said that this victory is an important contribution to strengthening the country`s international image. The Head of State noted that the decision to hold the next chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan was a result of the country`s achievements in sports.
European champion Shahriyar Mammadyarov hailed the team`s winning two golds, a silver and a bronze medal in the last four European championships as a result of purposeful state policy. Mammadyarov also said that he would do his best to "represent Azerbaijan duly in international tournaments".
President Ilham Aliyev underlined the role of specialists of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as the Azerbaijan Chess Federation in this achievement.
Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation Faig Hasanov thanked the President on behalf of the chess players and specialists for the attention.
He said that complex work is done to ensure development of chess in all regions of Azerbaijan.
