In an article entitled “I am not a Turk, I am Armenian,” Milliyet daily of Turkey portrayed Armenian national football team and Russia’s FC Kuban of Krasnodar midfielder Aras Ozbilis in such way that he seems to be a traitor for being born an Armenian. 

The reason for publishing such article was Ozbilis’ interview with a Russian television, during which, in response to the journalist’s query, Aras said he does not consider himself to be a Turk, since he is Armenian.

The aforesaid article also recalls that while Ozbilis was playing for Dutch giant FC Ajax of Amsterdam, he was invited to the Turkish national squad but, instead, he chose Armenia’s national team.        

Under the influence of this article, several Turkish readers wrote negative comments about Aras, but one of them, who comprehended the reality, wrote as follows:

“He is not a Turk. It is incomprehensible as to why you are so angry.”   

To note, Aras Ozbilis was born in Istanbul but, later, he moved to Holland with his family.  

By Artur Hakobyan