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| Bragi Kristjansson reports that this appeal from The Icelandic Chess Federation to President Bush was given to the US ambassador in Reykjavik last Friday. Reykjavík, 22 July 2004. Appeal to Mr. George W. Bush, the President of the United States of America, from the Icelandic Chess Federation, to drop charges against Mr. Robert James Fischer The Icelandic Chess Federation urges Mr. George W. Bush, the President of the United States of America to pardon Mr. Robert James Fischer of any charges for having violated sanctions against the former state of Yugoslavia, by playing a chess match there with Boris Spassky in 1992. Bobby Fischer devoted the best part of his life solely to the art of chess and reached unprecedented heights and genius in his play. His achievements in the field were such that his name will always inspire awe in the minds of those who appreciate the magic of chess. In 1972 Fischer gave the United States the World Championship Title in Chess after decades of domination by the Soviet Union. Bobby Fischer´s victory over Boris Spassky in Reykjavik in 1972 must count as one of the greatest achievements in the history of sports and international competition. At the height of the Cold War, ending the Soviet domination on the chess scene was an international event loaded with deep political and cultural significance of historic proportions. The triumph for the United States was immense; the loss for the Soviet Union was humiliating. Fischer was greeted as a national hero in America. For many years since, Fischer has been deeply troubled and isolated in his life. He abruptly ended his chess career at the height of his capabilities in 1972, thereby leaving behind the core of his very being. For twenty years he did not play a single official game of chess, despite persistent attempts by chess enthusiasts to get him back to the board. Finally, in 1992, on the 20th anniversary of the 1972 match, the world managed to lure Fischer back to play. The 20th anniversary match between Fischer and Spassky was held in the former state of Yugoslavia in 1992, a setting in which United Nations sanctions had been imposed. Defiantly, Fischer decided to play. In the aftermath he was indicted and an arrest warrant was issued in the United States. He now may face a $250,000 fine, ten years in prison, or both. In this whole drama, however, not a single person involved in the 1992 Fischer-Spassky Match has been indicted or even criticized for their participation; no one except Fischer. No other Americans were indicted for their involvement in the organization and arrangement of the match and neither Boris Spassky, Lothar Schmid or others involved were faced with any reproachment for their participation. For 12 years now Fischer has been exiled from his home, away from family and friends. This time has clearly put even greater pressure on his mental health. The Icelandic Chess Federation is, of course, aware of the obscene anti-Semitic and anti-American remarks that Bobby Fischer has made over the last years on different occasions. The federation is appalled by these remarks, as any civilised body would be, and sees them as signs of a deranged and devastated psyche. In 1992 in Yugoslavia, however, Bobby Fischer´s only crime was to play chess again, after years of isolation. Twenty years after being hailed as a national hero in his home country, on the 20th anniversary of his legendary US victory in the “Match of the Century”, Bobby Fischer finally returned to chess and earned a US arrest warrant. Through his exile, Fischer´s punishment has already been severe. The Icelandic Chess Federation urges the President of the United States to pardon Bobby Fischer and let him go free. |
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