ARMENIANS HAPPY WITH WARM TURKISH WELCOME

Hurriyet Daily News
Monday, October 12, 2009

CONTENT: Armenian Football Federation chief Ruben Hayrapetyan is
happy with the way the squad was welcomed in Bursa. AA photo

The Armenian national football team arrived in Bursa on Monday for
its World Cup qualifying round match against Turkey.

Turkey and Armenia will play their last fixture for Group 5 of the
2010 World Cup Qualifying tournament on Wednesday at Bursa’s Ataturk
Stadium.

Both teams have lost their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup,
but the game is still an important one, as it comes just after the
two countries signed protocols that may be the first step to solving
their troubles that date back a century.

Speaking after arriving in the northwestern city of Bursa, Armenian
Football Federation Chairman Ruben Hayrapetyan voiced his satisfaction
with the way the squad was welcomed.

"We were welcomed very well in Bursa," said Hayrapetyan. "Thanks to
the Turkish authorities for organizing it so well.

"I hope everything will be fine in the game, and both teams make a
good ending [to the campaign]."

In light of both countries’ political history, there were worries
of trouble triggered by ultra-nationalist groups in Bursa, but the
government took a string of precautions to avoid them.

"The tickets to the game will not be sold," daily Hurriyet reported
on Monday, "and will be distributed to hundreds of policemen and
soldiers who will enter the stadium as civilians."

The Bursa Police Department also warned Turkish citizens of Azerbaijani
origin who were reportedly planning to go to the game to protest
the normalization of relations between the Turkish and Armenian
governments.

The daily said the supporters were warned to avoid signs, banners or
flags related to Azerbaijan.