ATTACK ON TURKISH ARMENIANS IN ARMENIA
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Sept 4 2007
* The US Diaspora attacked the Turkish Armenians participating in
the World Armenians Olympics in Erivan (Yerevan), Armenia.
Seventy Turkish Armenian sportsmen representing Turkey participated
in the fourth World Armenian Olympics held in Armenia. The US Glendale
team played against Istanbul’s basketball team.
* ‘Dirty Turkish dogs’
The Diaspora games held in Armenia were marked by fights. When the
Istanbul team was insulted, a fight started, police entered the field
and the game was stopped for 15 minutes.
Last week the World Armenian Olympics were held in Erivan, the capital
of Armenia and Armenians living in different countries participated
in the games. This time, the games held every four years were marked
by ugly attacks and not athletic achievements. The US Armenians male
basketball team attacked the Istanbul team from Turkey. The American
basketball players provoked a Turkish player during a double game by
calling out "ugly Turkish dogs."
The fight started upon these words; police entered the field and the
game was stopped for 15 minutes. The American team denied the claims
and said: "we did not make such an insult. They started the fight by
insulting us. They are not real Armenians they are semi-Armenians."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Laciner from Ankara-based Turkish think tank
USAK said the fight clearly shows the diaspora approach in Armenian
issue: "Turkey is not a diaspora. Turkey is for Armenians is more
motherland than Armenia is. Turkey Armenians are more Armenian than
any Armenian in any country including Armenia. Armenians in Turkey
are full-Armenian and full-Turkish. Diaspora Armenians are not happy
with the fact that Turkey Armenians live in comfort and freedom in
Turkey more than Armenians in Armenia" Dr. Laciner added.