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 BURSA,
Turkey—Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian arrived in the Turkish
city of Bursa on Wednesday ahead of the Turkey-Armenia soccer
match and during a meeting with Turkish leaders he said he was
not asking the Diaspora’s permission about the protocols but
rather telling them of a government decision.
“I have not tried to inform people in order
to receive permission from the Armenian Diaspora. I wanted to
convey a decision of the Armenian Government to the Diaspora and
held meetings to update them,” said Sarkisian as reported by the
Anadolu News Agency.
“There could be individuals with different
thoughts in both countries. What is important is to see that the
number of the people thinking positively about our steps in the
majority,” added Sarkisian, according to Anadolu.
In his remarks, Sarkisian said the protocols
were a crucial step, adding that he had experienced difficulty
while trying to inform certain circles about the process.
During a meeting of both countries’
delegations, Turkish President Abdullah Gul declared “We are not
writing history, we are making history,” adding that making
history cannot take place in a single day.
“This is a process. We have witnessed
together that we can solve the difficult problems within this
process,” added Gul.
Sarkisian and Gul are due to attend a return
match of their countries’ national soccer teams, which was
scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. Pacific Time.
Sarkisian, accompanied by Foreign Minister
Eduard Nalbandian and other Armenian officials, arrived at Bursa
airport late in the afternoon. He was greeted there by Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in an official ceremony
broadcast live by Armenian and Turkish television. Sarkisian
smiled as he watched a brief performance by Turkish folk
dancers.
The two presidents were to have dinner before
heading to Bursa’s Ataturk Stadium. Gul will give a reception in
honor of his Armenian counterpart after the match. It was not
clear if they will make public statements after the talks as
they did in Yerevan last year. A statement issued by Sarkisian’s
office earlier in the day said the president will first visit
Armenia players and coaching staff to “encourage” them ahead of
the politically charged game.
Turkish authorities mounted tight security
measures in and around the stadium hours before the match.
Turkish media has reported that thousands of uniformed and
plainclothes security personnel will be deployed there to avoid
possible provocations. Fans will only be allowed to carry
Turkish and Armenian flags. Turkish officials have banned fans
from chanting political slogans and displaying Azerbaijani flags
at the match.
Ticket sales have been restricted, with most
distributed to students of military academies, police and their
families, according to media reports. President Gul has met with
leaders of fans groups to personally ask them not to overshadow
the game and return the “hospitality” with which he himself was
greeted in Yerevan.
AFP news agency reported that in a gesture to
their Armenian guests, the Turkish fans were expected to greet
them in the stadium by singing a folk song about a blonde lover,
which is popular in both Turkey and Armenia.
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