HISTORIC HANDSHAKE WINS MONACO PRIZE

UEFA.com
Dec 5 2008
Switzerland

A historic handshake between the president of Armenia, Serge
Sarkissian, and his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, at an
international football match in Yerevan has led to a key award in
the principality of Monaco.

Silence ended The Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award was presented
for a photograph representing the image of fraternisation through
sport – the handshake between the two presidents at the FIFA World
Cup qualifier between Armenia and Turkey on 6 September. This moment
marked the end of nearly two decades of diplomatic silence. In front of
an audience of over 300 personalities from sport, politics, business
and civil life assembled for the International Peace and Sport Forum,
Prince Albert II of Monaco handed the award jointly to Armen Grigorian,
Armenian minister of Youth and Sport, and Mahmut Ozgener, president of
the Turkish Football Federation. The pair exchanged lengthy greetings
on stage, creating a moment of intense emotion among the spectators.

Sport promotes peace "President Abdullah Gul went to Yerevan to
watch the football match between Armenia and Turkey with the strong
conviction that sport is an important instrument for bringing
people together and for promoting peace, fraternity, solidarity
and tolerance," said Ozgener. "In 2008, the Turkish and Armenian
national teams played each other three times. The first game was
between our Under-19 teams, the second between our Under-21 teams
and the third between the senior national teams. These events proved
to be instrumental in establishing new contacts and bridges between
Turkish and Armenian football fans, journalists, members of the
football federations and, last but not least, the representatives of
the two governments.

‘Football diplomacy’ "After the game between the Turkish and Armenian
teams, UEFA president Michel Platini said publicly that this match will
take its place in history books as an excellent example of football
diplomacy. It is our sincere wish and hope that with the help of an
ever growing number of sports events, a new relationship is going to
emerge to the benefit of the two peoples."

President ‘moved’ In a letter sent to the Peace and Sport Foundation,
the Armenian president, Serzh Sargsyan, said: "I am really moved to
learn the decision of the jury to attribute the Peace and Sport Image
of the Year Award to the handshake with the president of Turkey,
Abdullah Gul. I am convinced that sport is one of the best means to
overcome disagreement between people and nations."