ARMENIANS WAITING FOR GUL WITH OPEN ARMS

Turkish Daily News
Sept 4 2008
Turkey

While Turkey is debating what kind of reaction President Abdullah Gul
will get in Armenia when he goes to watch Saturday’s football game,
a voice rising from the other side of the Mount Ararat is quite
welcoming. ‘The Armenians are hospitable people, we have total
respect for your president,’ says the football federation chief
Ruben Hayrabedyan

As a novel occassion is approaching with the football game between
Turkey and Armenia, both countries have seemingly forgotten about
sports as all eyes are on the prospective meeting of presidents
Abdullah Gul and Serge Sarkisian.

Gul has not officially confirmed his visit to Yerevan for the World
Cup qualifying fixture, but it has been reported that he would accept
Sarkisian’s invitation to watch the game together at Hrazdan Stadium.

However, Gul will not be the only Turk watching the game at the
55,000-seat venue. The Turkish Football Federation expects 113 of their
members to be present at the game, declared the Armenian Federation
head Ruben Hayrabedyan.

Previously, it was reported that 5,000 seats were reserved for
Turkish fans. Hayrabedyan said visitors coming to Yerevan would
make an important contribution to solving the problems between the
two countries.

"We need contact to overcome problems between Turkey and Armenia,"
the federation chairman told the Turkish Daily News. "Yes, there are
painful memories of the past, but they should not be preventing the
bridges of fraternity in the future."

Saturday’s encounter has already become a diplomatic issue, surpassing
the sporting event, but the Armenian football chief tried to bring
the game back to the forefront of people’s minds.

"Football may seem to be overshadowed by the politics these days,
but that is not true," said Hayrabedyan, adding that football fans
are eagerly awaiting the match.

There are worries about serious protests against the Turkish side,
especially against Gul, and although Hayrabedyan did not deny that
protests might take place, he said they would not be aggressive.

"The Armenians are hospitable people," said Hayrabedyan. "Our people
want peace to be obtained between two countries. Our people have
complete respect towards the President Gul."

As the Armenian side played down the possibility of tensions off the
pitch, they expressed a strong belief that their national team would
give a hard time to the Euro 2008 semi-finalist Turks on the pitch.

"The Armenian team has become more and more strong recently," said
Hayrabedyan, adding that many players on the squad are playing abroad,
especially in Russian, Iranian, Romanian, Dutch and Danish clubs.

"Of course I want Armenia to win the game. But what is more important
than that, is my hope that the friendship will be the one winning in
the end."