Levon Aronian: I Feel Sad When I See Young Lives Lost in War Who Were About to Start New Lives

Armenian Grandmaster Levon Aronian made a post on his Facebook page addressing the conflict in Artsakh and the war situation along the contact line.

“Dear friends, I feel it is important to clarify my position and share my feelings with you. Until now, I had not made any statements regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I hold great respect for many Azerbaijani chess players, musicians, and individuals. I firmly believe that we, as sportsmen, should unite and bring nations together. The reason I can no longer remain silent is that both Azerbaijan and Turkey are attacking my country. This is unbelievable for me, as almost every civilized nation has acknowledged the fact of the Armenian Genocide that occurred between 1915-1918, where approximately one million Armenians were killed.

For example, imagine if during the Israeli-Palestinian war in the 1960s or later, Germany sent troops to fight against Israel, and the President of Germany openly declared that the Jewish people needed to be taught a lesson. Isn’t that surreal?

Therefore, in this situation, I can at least raise the level of awareness and support my people in any way I can. I do not wish to detail how animosity between our countries began. In the late 1980s, massacres took place in Sumgait and Baku against the Armenian population, which forced about 250,000 Armenians to leave everything behind and become refugees. Unfortunately, military crimes occurred on both sides. However, this is not what matters most to me.

I know one thing: when intelligent people from Armenia and Azerbaijan meet, there is much more understanding and respect compared to what we see online. And please, do not tell me that negotiations are impossible. If you come to discuss things, whatever you say is a threat when you say 'surrender, leave your people, and we will think about what to do.' That is not negotiation, it is a demand.

Every dialogue needs mutual respect to avoid becoming a monologue. I feel sad when I see young lives lost in war who were about to start new lives. I am proud that my friends, my future children, and I will be able to defend our country. This is our duty, and as an ancient nation, we owe our existence to our heroes. May God bring peace and prosperity to all of us.”