The October 10 signing ceremony of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols was followed by an Armenia-Turkey football match on October 14. The long-expected World Cup qualifying match between the national teams in Bursa, Turkey, was repeatedly discussed and commented on, gave rise to political speculations by certain forces. In terms of sport the game was not of great interest, as both the Turkish and the Armenian team were in any case to remain within the subgroup. Politically, however, the game was of importance – and of special importance for Turkey. To underline the significance of the sporting event, as well as Turkey’s efforts to organize it, UEFA President Michel Platini arrived in Bursa. It was important for Turkey to show hospitality meeting European standards and simultaneously remain committed to its policy of “zero problems with neighbors.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated Armenia had its place in this policy. Turkey almost succeeded in improving relations with all of its neighbors, with Armenia being the last. The Bursa match proved to be a good pretext for Turkey to show its goodwill. The Turkish authorities did their best for the Armenian delegation, including the national football team, to feel secure — as well as for Bursa to show its hospitality. Noteworthy in this context are Bursa Governor Şahabettin Harput’s efforts to properly show the hospitality of Bursa. Bursa residents also had an opportunity to show their hospitality to and respect for the Armenian guests. Especially commendable are the city police officer Levent Agbui and others, who not only ensured the Armenian delegation’s security, but also settled various problems the delegation encountered, thereby enhancing the reputation of the Turkish police.

It is international practice, and the Turkish leaders pointed out that the football match was a purely sporting event and was supposed to be held in a friendly atmosphere. Some forces in Azerbaijan and Turkey, however, did not share the opinion. A few days before the game they prepared a serious “attack” against Armenia. A signature-gathering campaign against Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit was organized in Bursa. The campaign was accompanied by anti-Armenian slogans chanted by the organizers. Azerbaijani organizations are known to have been actively involved in that process. The so-called anti-Armenian coalition was promoting the idea of preparing 15,000 Azerbaijani flags. Certain Turkish-Azeri forces managed to create an artificial “flag” crisis in Bursa. Before the match, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that waving the national flag of Azerbaijan at the stadium was not banned at all. The Bursa Governor stated that any national flag could be brought to the stadium. Nonetheless, FIFA prohibited the demonstration of Azerbaijani flags on the stands just before the game.

Nevertheless, about 300 Azerbaijani flags were waving at the stadium. During his visit to Baku later, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu confirmed the fact. It is noteworthy that an Azerbaijani flag was hanging from the window of the barber's shop just in front of the hotel the Armenian delegation stayed at, and no Turkish policeman ordered it to be taken down. Azerbaijan was not, however, feel contented – they were out for “war.” Seeing their efforts fail, they launched an anti-Turkish campaign. The “big brother” was accused of disregarding the “little brother’s” interests. They must have forgotten that it is for Azerbaijan’s sake that Turkey has been maintaining Armenia’s blockade since 1993, for which it has come under international pressure and criticism. They must have forgotten that — for many years and on every occasion – Turkey has been defending the “little brother’s” interests. They must have forgotten that, for many years, Turkey has been doing its best for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to be settled in Azerbaijan’s favor by supporting any anti-Armenian document submitted by Azerbaijan at international organizations. After all that, Azerbaijan’s response to its “big brother” was as follows: portraits of the Turkish Premier and Foreign Minister were burned in Baku before the Bursa match. They burned the portraits of the persons that attach importance to Azerbaijan’s interests. After the Bursa match, the Turkish flags were taken down in the “Shahid lane”, which was, apart from everything else, laid out in memory of the Turks killed during the liberation of Baku in 1918.

Turkey would not understand that step of Azerbaijan. Minister Davutoğlu, who could not believe the bitter truth, rashly stated that the flags had been taken down to be refreshed and would be hung again. However, the Turkish FM’s statement was followed by the unhanging of the Turkish flag from the Office for Religious Affairs, the building being the property of the Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan. Later, when it was clear that the flags had been taken off under the Azerbaijani law, Davutoğlu, while on a visit to Baku, had to state that Turkey has a similar law, which, however, does not apply to the national flag of Azerbaijan. He expressed a wish that Baku should not consider Turkish flags to be “foreign” either.

Baku’s refusal to re-hang the Turkish flags proved to be a rather unpleasant surprise for the Turkish Premier. Every time, while speaking of the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement, Recep Erdoğan refers to Azerbaijan’s interests, stating they will not be affected by the Armenia-Turkey normalization process. As regards the Turkish flags taken off in Baku, the Turkish Premier expressed hope that “Azerbaijan understands what it means to remove Turkish flags from a place dedicated to the memory of the Turkish soldiers killed for liberation of Baku.” Some forces in Azerbaijan remonstrated against official Baku’s anti-Turkish march. The demonstrations, however, were dispersed by the police.

The Bursa game proved to be a historic one also due to the fact that it revealed Azerbaijan’s non-constructive attitude to the matter of establishing peace in the region, as well as its attitude to its “big brother”, Turkey, which has done so much for her “little one.”