THE "KAISER" AND GERMANY 2006 ARE MAKING FRIENDS!
By Appo K. Jabarian
Executive Publisher/Managing Editor

USA Armenian Life Magazine
Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly
June 16-23, 2006

I would have loved being in Germany starting this June 9. Alas! That
didn’t happen. But the next best thing that happened when Jochen
Scherr, my German friend , invited me to the Goethe Institute,
a German cultural center in Los Angeles.

On Friday morning, several dozens of expatriate Germans gathered at
the center to see the opening ceremonies of the long-awaited "Germany
2006" international soccer extravaganza. Opening they saw. We all
saw. The very first match of the tournament pitted the host nation
Germany and Costa Rica. Germany won 4-2.

32 nations converged on German soil to compete through July 9 for
the Federation International de Football Association 2006 World Cup.

According to several sources, the worldwide audience watching this
18th FIFA World Cup, organized by Germany, is estimated to be at over
2 billion soccer fans. The 32 qualified nations are among the 205
nations that have competed during a period of nearly two years for a
spot in the World Cup. 205 nations were divided into six continental
football (soccer) conferences as follows:

– Asian Football Confederation "AFC" with 45 national teams. Qualified
national teams are: Iran, Australia, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia;

– Conference of African Federations "CAF" with 52 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Ivory Coast, Angola, Ghana,
Togo, Tunisia;

– Central and North American Confederation "CONCACAF" with 35 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Costa Rica, Trinidad, Mexico, USA;

– South America Confederation "CONMEBOL" with 10 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador,
Paraguay;

– Oceania Football Confederation "OFC" with 11 national
teams. Qualified national teams are: none;

– Union of European Football Associations "UEFA" with 52 national
teams.

Qualified national teams are: Germany, Poland, England, Sweden,
Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia,
France, Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine.

Armenians and friends may ask: "Where is Armenia?" Armenia couldn’t
qualify.

Armenia is a part of the Union of European Football
Associations. According to FIFA World Ranking, she ranks 44th among the
52 European national teams, and 109th among the world 205 teams. That’s
not bad for a country with a population of less than 4 million that
re-emerged as an independent state only 15 years ago. If it’s any
consolation, let’s look at China with a population of over 1.2 billion,
and India with nearly 1 billion. But no, Armenians would only compare
themselves, and compete with the top world soccer powerhouses such
as Germany, Italy, England, France, Spain, Brazil, etc.

The next question that may be asked: "Is Armenia represented?"

Of course! The valiant team of Iran (despite its tragic loss against
Mexico 1-3) has an Armenian player on its team. His name is Andranik
Teymourian. He wears jersey no. 14. Teymourian represents his country
of birth Iran, and his country of ethnic origin Armenia with flying
color. During the game against Mexico, Teymourian was the Iranian
player who was targeted the most to be subjected to fouls by several
Mexican players.

How about Alecko Eskandarian? Alecko is the American Major League
Soccer’s top scorer. Had he not been subjected to head injury nearly
a year ago he would have surely been qualified to be on team USA. Now
he has recovered and continues to out-perform his competitors. He
has a lot going for him. He is young, energetic, and currently the
top scorer of MLS. Many soccer experts think that his time will come
and he will represent USA with elan.

How else is Armenia represented at this World Cup? Armenia,
Armenians and friends around the world solemnly remember that
several countries out of 32 qualified, have recognized the Armenian
Genocide, and represent Armenians in a much more valuable arena:
political righteousness and morality. Germany, along with USA,
France, Argentina, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands,
has officially recognized the genocide at the hands of Turkey.

Armenians and friends also remember when Greece and France officially
recognized the genocide respectively in 1996, and 1998, both received
the blessings of the one and one half million martyred saints. France
became the gracious host of the spectacular 16th FIFA World Cup
tournament in 1998. A blessing that was well earned. An added blessing:
France became the world champion.

Speaking of Greece, the underdog Greeks astonished the world audience
and became great Greeks, the champion of Europe in 2004.

And now, Armenia, Armenians and friends around the world continue
to remember with gratitude that Germany has not only recognized the
genocide but also legislated a law against the denial of the Armenian
genocide. It is in the spirit of political courage and integrity
that Germany is putting to good use this World Cup’s official slogan
"A time to make friends".

Franz Beckenbauer, Germany’s most popular soccer player, coach and
manager ever, known as the "Kaiser", was one of the architects of
then West Germany’s victory in 1974 World Cup. The "Kaiser" is now
the President of the Organizing Committee Germany 2006 FIFA World
Cup. He wrote in the February/March 2006 issue: "… in Leipzig, a
city that in 1974, when DFB hosted a World Cup for the first time,
belonged to the GDR in a divided Germany, but has since become
one of the unmistakable symbols of the peaceful transformation
of the political situation both in Germany and Europe. … We do
not want to attach excessive ideological significance to the 2006
World Cup in Germany. Nonetheless, I consider it one indicator
of how different cultures have come together in recent years in a
Europe with many states. At the beginning of the 21st century, 82
million people … live together peacefully in Germany. And here,
following reunification in 1990, millions of people who were moulded
and divided by two different political systems have joined together
in an open society."

Kermania (Germany) of Central Europe is civilized, blessed, vibrant
and reunified. Can Ermania of the Caucasus and of the Armenian
Highlands in Western Ermania (Armenia) emulate their Kerman "Kaiser"
cousins? It’s not a question of "if" but "when!" So, can we all start
working toward securing Armenia’s participation in South Africa 2010
FIFA World Cup? Next, can we jointly endeavor for the Armenia 2030
FIFA World Cup possibly in a reunified homeland?