TURKEY, ARMENIA PRESENTED WITH PEACE AWARD
Dec 5 2008
Turkey
The Peace and Sport Organization aims to use sport to educate
individuals and communities across the world about peace.
Turkey and Armenia have been presented with "Peace and Sport Image
of the Year Award" by Monaco-based Peace and Sport Organization
(Organisation pour la Paix et le Spo Sport).
The organization said in a statement posted in its web-site, "this
distinction for the best image of fraternization through sport
was awarded for a photograph of the historic handshake between the
President of the Republic of Turkey Abdullah Gul and the President of
Armenia, Serge Sarkissian, during the qualifying match for the Football
World Cup between Turkey and Armenia. Thanks to football, this moment
marked the end of nearly two decades of diplomatic silence."
Mahmut Ozgener, president of the Turkish Football Federation,received
the award on behalf of President Gul from Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Ozgener said during the award ceremony that President Gul’s historic
visit to Armenia to watch the match proved that sport was an powerful
instrument bringing peoples together and ensuring peace in the world.
The Peace and Sport Organization aims to use sport to educate
individuals and communities across the world about peace. The Peace
and Sport acts to promote sport as a basis for efficient political
actions and a tool for peace.