Gul, Sargsyan make history at Bursa meeting

The Turkish National Football Team comfortably beat Armenia 2-0 in a World Cup qualifying group game last night, even though its fast start was slowed down by a red card. The two teams met in Bursa for a football game that was rich in political texture but low in sporting importance. Both teams had lost hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, but the match was still interesting because it came as the two countries take steps toward normalized bilateral relations. Among the spectators of the historic game were President Abdullah Gul, his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan, and the chief of world football’s governing body, FIFA, Michel Platini. The landmark encounter came shortly after two protocols were signed between the two countries to end decades of nonexistent relations. Sargsyan was welcomed at Bursa's Yenisehir Airport by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and students handing him flowers. Among the Turkish delegation greeting him at the airport was Unal Cevikoz, deputy foreign undersecretary, who played a critical role in the runup to the protocols. After greeting the Turkish delegation, Sargsyan stopped to watch folk dancers from Bursa. Prior to the game, Gul and Sargsyan co-chaired an interdelegational meeting. During the meeting, Gul reportedly said history can't be made in a single day. "This is a process. We have witnessed together that we can solve the difficult problems within this process," Gul said. "The two sides saw that difficult issues could be resolved," he added, characterizing the point now reached by the two governments as positive not only for Turkey and Armenia but for all the countries of the Caucasus. "Great steps were taken," he said. "A judicial platform was prepared. There are documents that were signed. The next process will be to make progress on this platform." Stating that the calendar set forth in the documents would go into effect once the documents have been approved, Gul told the interdelegational meeting that the process is being followed not only by the peoples of Turkey and Armenia but also the entire world. "This shows what a great step we've taken together," Gul said. Stressing the importance of reconciliation with Armenia, Gul said, "We're not writing history but making it." For his part, Sargsyan reportedly said the recent steps taken together by Turkey and Armenia are crucially important. He spoke about his recent meetings with members of the Armenian diaspora and the difficulties he faced. Members of the diaspora, estimated to number around 8 million, protested Sargsyan, objecting to the deal he reached with Turkey. "I didn't go there to get their permission," he said. "I went to tell them about the Armenian government’s decision." He added said that while there is opposition in both countries to the reconciliation process, most hold a favorable view. He expressed hope that over time more and more people will support the process. "We're doing the right thing," he added. "We're taking steps which we believe are right." Participants at the interdelegational meeting praised Sargsyan's courage in coming to Turkey to see a game between the national teams, as Gul did in traveling to Yerevan last year. They said both sides showed examplary leadership and that the people of both countries grew closer to each other. Gul also hosted a dinner in Sargsyan's honor.