Kunduz, 2 September 2009 - Chess players from the northern province of Kunduz put their playing skills to test in the cause of peace with a competition organised by the Kunduz Youth Information and Communication Centre (YICC) with support from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The chess competition was held early this week to raise public awareness about International Day of Peace on 21 September.

Some 14 of the best chess players in Kunduz competed for three days; and the three finalists were awarded prizes and gifts during a ceremony attended by government authorities, civil society, UNAMA staff members and media.

“Peace is a desire which God and the Prophet emphasized on. We wish that one a day, Afghanistan could have real peace for our future and children,” said Dr. Nasir, a member of the Kunduz chess federation, during his opening speech.

“War brings destruction and peace brings prosperity. By conducting a sports competition with Kunduz youths, we want to announce a message that we want peace not war,” explained Azizullah Hedayat from the Youth Section of the Kunduz Cultural and Information Department.

Mr. Hedayat believes that peace values can take root in Afghanistan with the effort of the youth generation.

“All human beings aspire to a peaceful life – when Afghans have peace, they will have promotion,” said Muhammad Basir, the chess competition winner.

“Sports is the symbol of peace and friendship, because when the world’s countries attend international competitions, they lay aside their enmity and play in a peaceful atmosphere. By playing chess in Kunduz, we wanted to announce our aversion (to) war and love for peace,” declared Habibullah who came in third position.

Habibullah believes that by organizing a sports competition, the youth may not be able to improve the security situation but their effort is important to bring peace and security in the country. It can also contribute towards the eradication of misunderstandings among different ethnic groups, even if it takes a long time.

In 2008, UN agencies and civil society organized many peace events in the Northeastern Region, the most important of which was naming one of the streets in Kunduz City as “Peace Avenue.”

By Shamsuddin Hamedi, UNAMA

Website: United Nations Children Fund