Sarkisian confirms he will visit Turkey
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian has confirmed he
will visit Turkey on Wednesday to attend a landmark soccer match
between the two countries` national teams in Bursa.
Sarkisian told reporters prior to leaving for Moscow on Monday that, provided no emergencies occur during the two days, he will head to Bursa to support the Armenian team, adding there were no reasons to decline his Turkish counterpart`s invitation to attend the match.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Yerevan`s genocide claims. However, the two countries` leaders attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September, which was seen by the world as signs of a thaw in Ankara-Yerevan ties. Further, President Abdullah Gul invited his Armenian counterpart to Turkey for a return match.
Sarkisian earlier said he would visit the neighboring country only if the border opens.
Turkey and Armenia signed a landmark agreement in Zurich, Switzerland Saturday to establish diplomatic relations and open their sealed border. But the parliaments of Armenia and Turkey need to ratify the protocols for them to be implemented.
Sarkisian`s 17-people-strong security service arrived in Bursa on Monday along with the Armenian soccer team. The delegation received a warm welcome at the airport. Security officers examined the route the Armenian president will be passing while in the Turkish town.
The Turkish government also announced the security measures it was undertaking during the upcoming match. Hurriyet newspaper reported that 2,500 officers - 1,700 policemen and 800 security officers - will be in charge of safety in the area. Some of the security officers, wearing civlian clothes, will be sitting with the football fans. Buildings near the stadium will be under control of officers and people entering and leaving the area will be inspected.
Metal detectors will be installed at all entrances of the stadium and fans entering will be required to go through them to prevent their carrying metal items into the stadium.
Football fans will not be allowed to wear clothing with letter inscriptions or carry pens, to prevent fans from waving posters showing words.
Drinks in glass bottles or liquids will be banned, as well. Only plastic bottles of water will be served to the spectators during the game.
Despite an earlier ban on Azerbaijani flags, which sparked ire in Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Bursa city authorities authorized carrying them at the last minute. Turkish media quoted the city governor Sahabettin Harput as saying that fans will be allowed to bring the flags to the stadium. Harput did not elaborate why the decision has been abruptly changed.
A number of Turkish non-governmental organizations are preparing 15,000 Azerbaijani flags to be distributed among fans.
Turkey`s Internethaber website has said President Gul, in a meeting with city officials, sought to ``show good hospitality`` and issued orders to prevent ``even a bird from flying without permission`` in the audience stands, to thwart potential provocations.
Both Turkey and Armenia have lost their chances to advance to the final leg of the World Cup, which means the game will be strictly formal.
Sarkisian told reporters prior to leaving for Moscow on Monday that, provided no emergencies occur during the two days, he will head to Bursa to support the Armenian team, adding there were no reasons to decline his Turkish counterpart`s invitation to attend the match.
Turkey and Armenia face decades of enmity. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory and Yerevan`s genocide claims. However, the two countries` leaders attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan in September, which was seen by the world as signs of a thaw in Ankara-Yerevan ties. Further, President Abdullah Gul invited his Armenian counterpart to Turkey for a return match.
Sarkisian earlier said he would visit the neighboring country only if the border opens.
Turkey and Armenia signed a landmark agreement in Zurich, Switzerland Saturday to establish diplomatic relations and open their sealed border. But the parliaments of Armenia and Turkey need to ratify the protocols for them to be implemented.
Sarkisian`s 17-people-strong security service arrived in Bursa on Monday along with the Armenian soccer team. The delegation received a warm welcome at the airport. Security officers examined the route the Armenian president will be passing while in the Turkish town.
The Turkish government also announced the security measures it was undertaking during the upcoming match. Hurriyet newspaper reported that 2,500 officers - 1,700 policemen and 800 security officers - will be in charge of safety in the area. Some of the security officers, wearing civlian clothes, will be sitting with the football fans. Buildings near the stadium will be under control of officers and people entering and leaving the area will be inspected.
Metal detectors will be installed at all entrances of the stadium and fans entering will be required to go through them to prevent their carrying metal items into the stadium.
Football fans will not be allowed to wear clothing with letter inscriptions or carry pens, to prevent fans from waving posters showing words.
Drinks in glass bottles or liquids will be banned, as well. Only plastic bottles of water will be served to the spectators during the game.
Despite an earlier ban on Azerbaijani flags, which sparked ire in Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Bursa city authorities authorized carrying them at the last minute. Turkish media quoted the city governor Sahabettin Harput as saying that fans will be allowed to bring the flags to the stadium. Harput did not elaborate why the decision has been abruptly changed.
A number of Turkish non-governmental organizations are preparing 15,000 Azerbaijani flags to be distributed among fans.
Turkey`s Internethaber website has said President Gul, in a meeting with city officials, sought to ``show good hospitality`` and issued orders to prevent ``even a bird from flying without permission`` in the audience stands, to thwart potential provocations.
Both Turkey and Armenia have lost their chances to advance to the final leg of the World Cup, which means the game will be strictly formal.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!