Security at high level before Turkey-Armenia soccer match

The necessary security measures have been taken to prevent incidents that could possibly erupt during the match. Unfurling anything other than national flags or banners won't be allowed in the stadium. Any incidents of hooliganism will not be tolerated and offenders will be removed from the stadium. It is yet unknown if Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan will attend the match.

Turkey defeated Armenia 2-0 in the first leg of the world cup qualifiers played in Armenia on Sept. 6, 2008. President Abdullah Gül also attended the match to kick off the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia. The Turkish national team must defeat Armenia to continue its bid to advance.

Speaking to the private Cihan news agency, Bursa Governor Şahabettin Harput said this match is important for the prestige of the city. “We will be the center of attention, a big number of journalists and media representatives will be closely following the match. I assess the match as a turning point in terms of relations between the two countries,” Harput noted.

Governor Harput also stated that they have made a tremendous effort to prevent provocative slogans during the match. Harput said they have talked to various civil society organizations and fans' associations to avoid any possible problems during play.

Head of Bursaspor Fans' Association Mesut Ağrak believes that the match is important in terms of Turkey's image. “We will peacefully support our team throughout the match. I believe Bursa will pass this ‘hospitality exam.' We will obey the rule that no any other banners or flags except the Turkish flag will be unfurled in the stadium,” Ağrak said to Cihan. The leaders of the famous Bursaspor fan group “Texas” also confirm that they are ready to host both the Armenian national team and Armenian fans in the best way they can, they said speaking to Devrim Sevimay from Milliyet daily. “We are not racist or fascist. Come to Bursa and experience our hospitality,” said Selim Kurtulan, a leader of the Texas fan group.

In addition, the mayor of Bursa, Recep Altepe, told Cihan that the match is a “vehicle” to normalize relations between two countries. “We may develop our relations and build friendships through this match,” Altepe claimed.

Civil society organization welcomes the Armenia match

“Bursa's media has always been and will always be sensitive to preventing problems. There will not be any negative incidents from Bursa fans but it is necessary to be careful about those coming from outside Bursa,” Nuri Kolaylı, president of the Bursa Journalists' Society (BGC) said.

Bursaspor soccer team Chairman İbrahimYazıcı also spoke of the importance of the match with respect to the promotion of the city. “Through the support of our fans we will defeat our opponent. We are not expecting any kind of negativity,” Yazıcı said.

Bursa Confederation of Tradesmen and Artisans Chambers (BESOB) head Arif Tak said Turkish people are welcoming. “No matter who comes, Bursa will display its hospitality. There are some problems between Turkey and Armenia but these countries may not remain as enemies forever,” Tak said speaking to Cihan.

During the Turkish Super League soccer match between Diyarbakırspor and Bursaspor on Sept. 29, some Bursaspor fans were hostile towards Diyarbakırspor players and fans, accusing them of being “separatists.” Ten people, including children, were injured after supporters from both teams hurled stones and other projectiles at each other. Five people were detained in connection with the clashes. Some Bursaspor fans waved banners that read “Happy is he who says I am a Turk,” accusing Diyarbakırspor supporters of being pro-PKK and telling them to leave the country. Amid this crisis in the soccer match, concerns were again raised about the Turkey-Armenia soccer match. “Hostilities during the Diyarbakırspor match were not particularly against Diyarbakırspor, we shout the same chants in every match. We have many martyrs from this group,” said Kurtulan.

The head of the Bursa branch of the Turkish Public Workers' Labor Union (Kamu-Sen), Selçuk Türkoğlu, said they have started a campaign to express Bursa's citizens concern over the arrival of Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan in Bursa. “We are not against the Turkey-Armenia match. Sport is a stage for friendly competition even for countries experiencing uneasy relations. We want this match to create friendship among our nations. Our concerns are not with Armenian national team, either. We just do not want to host Armenian President Sarksyan,” Türkoğlu told Today's Zaman.

Bursa Kamu-Sen started a campaign last week collecting 50,000 signatures in two-and-a-half days to protest against Sarksyan's visit to Bursa for the soccer match. “This is a civil initiative, this is the protest of Bursa citizens,” he stated.

Türkoğlu explained that initially they were also against President Abdullah Gül's visit to Armenia last year as Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani territories continues and more than a million Azerbaijani citizens are internally displaced people.

“These were the reasons for the closure of the borders. Ignoring Armenia's actions, Sarksyan has sabotaged Turkey saying that if the borders are not open, he will not come to Turkey,” he said. Condemning what had happened during the Diyarbakırspor-Bursaspor match, Türkoğlu hoped they wouldn't see similar incidents during the Armenia match. He said they have already sent the details of the campaign to the Turkish Parliament speaker's office and the Presidency.

The Turkish and Armenian national teams will meet on Oct. 14 at Bursa Atatürk Stadium. This match is very important both in terms of Turkey's 2010 World Cup bid and Turkish-Armenian relations. Turkey has to both win the match and the hearts of Armenians.