They just do not like that we work so hard.They do not like that we do not share the countries by their political views. We support all members of the FIDE, all 186 countries, including Syria.
I met with Bashar Assad. We have built a chess center. I was accused that I provide financial support to the Government of Syria. But if we consider the financial assistance that we sent them a thousand chess boards and three thousand chess textbooks for schoolchildren, translated into Arabic, then it is – utter nonsense.
– Does your activity raise concerns from the US government?
– My work all 20 years in plain sight. And we are always and everywhere are promoting world peace. It is clear that with this policy they don't like me. Many times I have met with Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi. In our last meeting, when Gaddafi had already begun the persecution, we played chess with him.
We kind of pacifists. I have plans to spend even a chess match on the 38th parallel between North and South Korea, to bring 100 children from Pyongyang and 100 children from Seoul. Then – a match between the Israeli and Palestinian children. There is already an agreement with the Palestinian leadership that negotiations with Israel.
The leaders of some countries one day become displeasing to puppeteers from the USA. They immediately called them tyrants, dictators. Destroying the leaders, they thus destroyed the countries. As a result, millions of people will die. Now they reached Syria. Therefore, it is obvious – they do not like that we so openly fight for peace.
– Will you challenge the sanctions?
– I will seek a meeting with US President Barack Obama. I want to hold a press conference.