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I WOULD GO FOR A STROLL, BUT I WOULDN'T PARTICIPATE IN A TOURNAMENT THERE: ARONIAN ON BAKU
Tert.am
15:06 ~U 25.11.09
Azerbaijan's chess players are gradually revealing their talents,
said one of the world's leading chess players (the fourth in FIDE
rating as of November 2009), leader of Armenia's team, twice-Olympic
champion Levon Aronian stated in his interview to 1news.az.
Responding to the question whether "the weight of the burden of
the conflict between the two nations influences him when playing
against Azerbaijani chess players," Aroniansaid: "If the opponent
is a man of dignity, gentlemen, then it has no influence. That is,
if you are playing with a regular person, a regular chess player,
then normal relations develop between you also during the game. But
if the opponent is trying to enrage you and isn't guided by sporting
principles, then naturally the 'burden' is felt. But, of course, the
insults made on the basis of nationality are understandable, though I
don't accept such an approach, in principle. That is, it's alien to me,
but when I see such behaviour, I understand its reason," Aronian said.
According to the Armenian chess player, from the Azerbaijani chess
players he is in contact with Shahriar Mamedyarov the most. "I have
seen almost his entire family except his mother and I like them all
very much. From the Hashimov family, I know you [Sarhan Hashimova is
the interviewer and sister of Azerbaijani player Vugar Hashimov],
Vugar and your father. I respect all of you, too. I have seen Tima
Radjabov's parents, but if we're talking about friends then I have more
friendly relations with Shahriar," the Armenian chess player stated.
Asked whether he would like to visit Baku, Aronian said he would
like to visit the city, to go for a stroll along its streets, but he
wouldn't like to participate in a tournament in Baku. "Of course, it
would be pleasant to visit, to train or play chess, but the question
is that I wouldn't feel free in the present situation. If everyone
knows you and has problems with your nation... Imagine, at some point
you would like to go for a stroll, but you know that people have an
initial prejudicial attitude towards you..."
Tert.am
15:06 ~U 25.11.09
Azerbaijan's chess players are gradually revealing their talents,
said one of the world's leading chess players (the fourth in FIDE
rating as of November 2009), leader of Armenia's team, twice-Olympic
champion Levon Aronian stated in his interview to 1news.az.
Responding to the question whether "the weight of the burden of
the conflict between the two nations influences him when playing
against Azerbaijani chess players," Aroniansaid: "If the opponent
is a man of dignity, gentlemen, then it has no influence. That is,
if you are playing with a regular person, a regular chess player,
then normal relations develop between you also during the game. But
if the opponent is trying to enrage you and isn't guided by sporting
principles, then naturally the 'burden' is felt. But, of course, the
insults made on the basis of nationality are understandable, though I
don't accept such an approach, in principle. That is, it's alien to me,
but when I see such behaviour, I understand its reason," Aronian said.
According to the Armenian chess player, from the Azerbaijani chess
players he is in contact with Shahriar Mamedyarov the most. "I have
seen almost his entire family except his mother and I like them all
very much. From the Hashimov family, I know you [Sarhan Hashimova is
the interviewer and sister of Azerbaijani player Vugar Hashimov],
Vugar and your father. I respect all of you, too. I have seen Tima
Radjabov's parents, but if we're talking about friends then I have more
friendly relations with Shahriar," the Armenian chess player stated.
Asked whether he would like to visit Baku, Aronian said he would
like to visit the city, to go for a stroll along its streets, but he
wouldn't like to participate in a tournament in Baku. "Of course, it
would be pleasant to visit, to train or play chess, but the question
is that I wouldn't feel free in the present situation. If everyone
knows you and has problems with your nation... Imagine, at some point
you would like to go for a stroll, but you know that people have an
initial prejudicial attitude towards you..."