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UEFA BOSS THANKS TURKEY AND ARMENIA
Today's Zaman
Sept 9 2008
Turkey
Turkey beat Armenia 2-0 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in
Yerevan on Saturday. This was an ordinary match, but what made this
fixture somewhat exceptional, however, was the historical context of
the game.
One has to imagine two countries with a common border, who ignore each
other and who have not had any relations for 90 years -- certainly
a unique case in world terms.
UEFA President Michel Platini underlined the importance of the
occasion, saying: "Soccer is our world. Consequently, it is not our
intention to analyze the reasons for this state of affairs. However,
it must be emphasized today that soccer has, once again, brought people
closer together. A president of Turkey has visited Armenia for the
first time. The Turkish national anthem was played and respected in
Yerevan. There was great emotion on both sides and my representatives
in Yerevan tell me that the match was played in an exemplary spirit,"
according to a report on uefa.com.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two associations
and the players. They have provided an extraordinary example of the
power of sport's spirit and have sent out a considerable message of
hope in a region which has a great need of such messages," he added.
Today's Zaman
Sept 9 2008
Turkey
Turkey beat Armenia 2-0 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in
Yerevan on Saturday. This was an ordinary match, but what made this
fixture somewhat exceptional, however, was the historical context of
the game.
One has to imagine two countries with a common border, who ignore each
other and who have not had any relations for 90 years -- certainly
a unique case in world terms.
UEFA President Michel Platini underlined the importance of the
occasion, saying: "Soccer is our world. Consequently, it is not our
intention to analyze the reasons for this state of affairs. However,
it must be emphasized today that soccer has, once again, brought people
closer together. A president of Turkey has visited Armenia for the
first time. The Turkish national anthem was played and respected in
Yerevan. There was great emotion on both sides and my representatives
in Yerevan tell me that the match was played in an exemplary spirit,"
according to a report on uefa.com.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two associations
and the players. They have provided an extraordinary example of the
power of sport's spirit and have sent out a considerable message of
hope in a region which has a great need of such messages," he added.