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Monday 12 November 2007

Hate of The Day

Teimur Radjabov: The enemy is the enemy – we all hate Armenians

The head of the Azerbaijani national chess team that won the bronze medal at the European Team Championship, behind Russia and Armenia, Teimour Radjabov, 20 yrs old, on his team's feelings before the match against Armenia (ended in draw):

"I will not deny that we were very nervous. Regardless of where we meet, the enemy is the enemy. We all have feelings of hate towards them. But you must try to suppress those feelings and not let them interfere. Chess must be played with a sober head."

I wonder what could have happened should they not "suppress" their (hate) feelings - second Safarov?

Last year Teimour Radjabov was appointed as the UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador for Azerbaijan. If he is the one to inspire young people, one should worry about their future.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

i can't believe he was chosen as goodwill ambassador and made those comments. they should take that title off him.

Rhiannon.

Anonymous said...

I actually wrote to UNICEF about this!!! they sent me an email back saying my email would be forwarded to the Azerbaijan office !!! not that i've heard anything from them. ;)
i can't remember what i said exactly but i know i said it was terrible that someone making those comments was chosen for goodwill ANYTHING and they might just as well have Zhirnovsky to represent Russia. :)

Rhiannon.

artmika said...

Thank you so much, Rhiannon, for your initiative. I am impressed, honest. I posted it, but you took an action!!! That's very important. PLEASE, keep me posted on developments. It will be very interesting to hear (if we will ever hear) response from UNICEF's Azerbaijani office.

Anonymous said...

I blame the state-run propaganda that originates form the racist Azeri government itself.

I have friends who are Azeri and they are just 10 years older than this chessplayer (in their late 20-s and 30s) and they understand Armenian rational and standpoint. But this new generation from both Armenia, but more so from Azerbaijan is just filled with this all-out racist hate. Oh well, can't blame them -- after all they grew up in totally encapsulated society -- no communication, no cultural exchange or dialogue with the other side. All they grew up with is what grandpa Aliev had to say.

kronstadt
http://azat.wordpress.com