Turkish officials believe the match will be a turning point in the normalization of relations between the two countries after a century of hostilities.
The Azerbaijan public has raised concerns about the reported ban on the Azerbaijani flag in the stadium without a similar prohibition against displaying the Armenian flag during the match. Commenting on the growing controversy, Ambassador Hulusi Kılıç said he did not believe there would be a ban on Azerbaijani flags during the game, scheduled for Wednesday. "This is pure soccer, with no politics. Politics is not pertinent here," the Azeri-Press Agency (APA) quoted Ambassador Kılıç as saying on Wednesday.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan is expected to come to Turkey to watch the game, just as his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül, visited Yerevan to watch the first game between the two countries' national teams on Sept. 6, 2008. Authorities in Bursa are taking measures to ensure maximum security during the game, and media reports said spectators will not be allowed to unfurl any banner or flag other than the national flags of the teams playing.
The Bursa police are well prepared and will be on alert to prevent clashes between rival fans. Nearly 2,000 special security forces will be stationed to maintain order at the stadium in Bursa during the game. Plainclothes policemen will also be among the fans to immediately prevent any derogatory chants or slogans.
Turkey and Armenia are engaged in talks to restore diplomatic relations, severed since 1993. Turkish ally Azerbaijan, locked in a bitter dispute with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, is watching the process closely from the sidelines.
