PLATINI HAILS FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY AFTER TURKISH PRESIDENT VISITS ARMENIA
Agence France Presse
Sept 8 2008
PARIS (AFP) — UEFA President Michel Platini on Monday hailed the
unifying force of football after the 2010 World Cup qualifier between
Armenia and Turkey at the weekend was accompanied by an historic
visit of the Turkish president to Yerevan.
President Abdullah Gul’s landmark visit coincided with his country’s
2-0 victory and is expected to ease relations between the two foes.
Turkey has refused to establish diplomatic ties with Armenia since
the former Soviet republic gained independence in 1991 because of
Armenian efforts to secure international recognition of Armenian
massacres under the Ottoman Empire as genocide.
"Football is our world. Consequently, it is not our intention to
analyse the reasons for this state of affairs. However, it must be
emphasised today that football has, once again, brought people closer
together. A president of Turkey has visited Armenia for the first
time," said Platini.
"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.
"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."