The atmosphere in Bursa changed in a flash after Turkey lost its chance to qualify for the World Cup tournament before a 2-0 loss to Belgium, and the Turkey-Armenia match has lost its importance in terms of soccer. Although the Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF), which had planned to sell tickets for the match for TL 150, has decided to distribute tickets free of charge, few are likely to come to the match to support Turkey.
The game, which also bears political importance because of its probable contribution to bilateral ties between the two countries, seems to have lost its diplomatic importance to some extent as an agreement was signed between Turkey and Armenia on Saturday to establish diplomatic relations.
Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, who previously said he would not attend the Turkey-Armenia 2010 World Cup qualifying match in Turkey if the border between Armenia and Turkey remained closed, announced yesterday that he will come to the match in accordance with the deal signed. Turkish President Abdullah Gül also decided to come to Bursa upon Sarksyan's decision. The two presidents are expected to arrive in Bursa on Wednesday.
The Turkish and Armenian national teams have also arrived in the city. The Armenian team held its first training session in the city on Monday at Bursaspor's facilities. While the team previously planned to take a city tour, they were not reportedly allowed to for security concerns. Security teams, who predict that provocateurs would likely go to the match now that tickets are free of charge, have intensified security measures. They are also trying to find ways to identify fans who were previously involved in provocative incidents and not to allow them into the match.
Some circles in the city have been questioning since Sunday why the Bursa Governor's Office announced that unfurling anything other than national flags or banners will not be allowed in the stadium. The Turkish Public Workers' Labor Union (Kamu-Sen) distributed 10,000 Azerbaijani flags in the city.
Some Bursaspor fans say they will not obey the rule that no banners or flags other than the Turkish flag will be displayed in the stadium.
Some soccer commentators claim that Armenia will win the match, as the match has lost its athletic excitement. Those evaluating the match from a diplomatic perspective, however, say the match is likely to be the most friendly match between two countries.
Turkey and Armenia have been holding closed-door talks for more than a year on ways to restore diplomatic relations and open their mutual border, closed by Turkey in 1993 in protest over the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory during a war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The dispute is further complicated by Armenian claims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, a charge Turkey denies.
Benzer Haberler 
Diplomacy
