– Kirsan Nikolaevich, what can you say about the US Treasury Department sanctions against you? Whatistheirpurpose? – US accuse you that you met with Syrian President Bashar Assad?
– My main mission – to develop and popularize chess in the world. In this regard we make no exceptions on grounds of race, nationality and other characteristics. Within this mission, I visit a lot of countries for the year – in 2012, for example, there were about 100.
Yes, I was on an official visit to Syria, where I met with the President and the Minister of Education and Sports. The meeting discussed issues of development of chess only, introduction of chess lessons in Syrian schools. In particular, we agreed that FIDE will send a thousand sets of chess to Syrian children.
– The US Treasury claims that you were involved in the negotiations on the purchase of oil ...
– I do not have and never had commercial interests in Syria. I am not provided and not to provide mediation services for buying any oil whatsoever state, company or individual. We never discussed these issues with the President of Syria, nor any other Syrian citizen.
– The imposition of sanctions can somehow influence your professional career?
– The so-called sanctions could hinder my work on the popularization of chess, including in this country. In November 2016, we plan to hold in the US match at the World Chess Championship. In my plans – visit Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. The purpose of the visit – the inspection potential candidate cities, meetings with sponsors.
– Are you ready for a dialogue with the American side?
– If necessary, I am ready to meet with representatives of the US Treasury and to provide all necessary information to resolve this issue.
– В случае необходимости, я готов встретиться с представителями Минфина США и предоставить всю необходимую информацию для разрешения данного вопроса.
