Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in English
11 Mar 04

Grandmaster expects Karabakh tournament to become “tradition”

YEREVAN

Ex-world chess champion Boris Spasskiy has refrained from commenting
on the negative reaction by Azerbaijan to the holding of an
international chess tournament in Nagornyy Karabakh.

Boris Spasskiy said in an interview with Mediamax: “I still do not
have any clarity concerning this issue.” “Theoretically, I think that
sports must be beyond politics but still this is not so in real
life,” the grandmaster said.

Boris Spasskiy expressed confidence that the international chess
tournament held in Stepanakert Xankandi will become a tradition,
noting that “the president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic has also
said this”.

Passage omitted: Spasskiy expected to attend the Karabakh tournament
and Azerbaijan