Last Saturday, a new era began with a simple soccer match between Armenia and Turkey. This match was not just any match that could be played anywhere in the world — it is so important for the destiny of the two countries, the dissident peoples and the so-called “unsolvable” debate. The destructive and sudden war between Georgia and Russia escalated the situation in the Caucasus. The rumors and the analyses brought us into a kind of confusion about the new world order. This sudden war changes the whole structure of the political designs and future plans of the many states involved. It is quite clear that after these occurrences and Russia’s overreaction, this conflict has become the harbinger of new foreign policy in neighboring states.

The story began with a friendly invitation. Before the sudden war, by chance Turkey and Armenia became competitors in the preliminaries of the 2010 World Cup. Armenian President Serj Sarkisyan wrote an article in The Wall Street Journal on July 9, 2008, and invited the president of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, to watch the soccer match between Armenia and Turkey. The Armenian question in Turkey and the cold relations after the Azeri-Armenian conflict, followed by the diaspora’s effect on the parliamentary acceptance of the genocide claims in some of the countries, deteriorated the relations. This invitation seemed to be a great opportunity to open the channels of communication and ameliorate the relations. It seems that this war prepared the ground for the newly-established close relations between Armenia and Turkey. However, President Gul briefly said, “I have the intention to go to Armenia and accept the invitation, but I am still thinking about it,” in an interview with prominent journalist Hasan Cemal in the Turkish daily newspaper, Milliyet. Whether the war erupted or not, it is very important for Turkey to establish a direct relationship with Armenia. The debates on the possibility of an Armenian genocide became a deadlock and the assassination of a peace icon, Hrant Dink, changed the course of the diplomatic and social history between the two nations. For European Union membership talks, this issue becomes more and more important day by day. On the other hand, the issue is not exactly about the Armenian claims of genocide at all, but the freedom of speech and freedom of the press and the democratization in Turkey as well. All the liberal democrats and socialists delighted and rejoiced in this match, and in Gul’s visit to Yerevan. They strongly supported the intention and the decision of the president to go to Yerevan, especially against the nationalists and today’s right wing Republican People’s Party (CHP). Also, in the Armenian media, there is unusual and huge interest in the visit of the president of Turkey as well, because this is the first visit by a Turkish president to the young state of Armenia. This opportunity for better relations and the hope that this will help penetrate the prejudices among the peoples of Armenia and Turkey came from a simple soccer match. It is a little bit weird for me because of my political ideas about soccer or football (Europeans call it football), but if such a great hope can come from a soccer game, I may start playing soccer.

These countries need each other to solve their disputes and controversies by forming close diplomatic relations, and they need each other to strengthen their democracies for the future. It is inevitable that Georgia needs the EU, the EU needs Turkey, Turkey needs the EU and Armenia — and Armenia needs Turkey and the EU. In that formulation, a Europe without Turkey cannot be imagined, and if the EU wants to influence and show its existence, she needs Turkey desperately. I hope that this simple soccer match serves to aid peace and put a hallmark in the history of Turkey and Armenia. It also shows how a soccer match can become a really diplomatic sentiment in history, which is impressive. Marx declared, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” I think I disagree a little with the great philosopher, but I agree that soccer is the opiate of the masses. In spite of this, I think such an opium will be put to good use as an anesthetic to help the relations between Turkey and Armenia operate better.