June 16-23, 2006 By Appo K. Jabarian Executive Publisher/Managing Editor USA Armenian Life Magazine Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly I would have loved being in Germany starting this June 9. Alas! That didn't happen. But the next best thing that happened when Jochen Scherr, my German friend , invited me to the Goethe Institute, a German cultural center in Los Angeles. On Friday morning, several dozens of expatriate Germans gathered at the center to see the opening ceremonies of the long-awaited "Germany 2006" international soccer extravaganza. Opening they saw. We all saw. The very first match of the tournament pitted the host nation Germany and Costa Rica. Germany won 4-2. 32 nations converged on German soil to compete through July 9 for the Fédération International de Football Association 2006 World Cup. According to several sources, the worldwide audience watching this 18th FIFA World Cup, organized by Germany, is estimated to be at over 2 billion soccer fans. The 32 qualified nations are among the 205 nations that have competed during a period of nearly two years for a spot in the World Cup. 205 nations were divided into six continental football (soccer) conferences as follows: - Asian Football Confederation "AFC" with 45 national teams. Qualified national teams are: Iran, Australia, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia; - Conference of African Federations "CAF" with 52 national teams. Qualified national teams are: Ivory Coast, Angola, Ghana, Togo, Tunisia; - Central and North American Confederation "CONCACAF" with 35 national teams. Qualified national teams are: Costa Rica, Trinidad, Mexico, USA; - South America Confederation "CONMEBOL" with 10 national teams. Qualified national teams are: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay; - Oceania Football Confederation "OFC" with 11 national teams. Qualified national teams are: none; - Union of European Football Associations "UEFA" with 52 national teams. Qualified national teams are: Germany, Poland, England, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine. Armenians and friends may ask: "Where is Armenia?" Armenia couldn't qualify. Armenia is a part of the Union of European Football Associations. According to FIFA World Ranking, she ranks 44th among the 52 European national teams, and 109th among the world 205 teams. That's not bad for a country with a population of less than 4 million that re-emerged as an independent state only 15 years ago. If it's any consolation, let's look at China with a population of over 1.2 billion, and India with nearly 1 billion. But no, Armenians would only compare themselves, and compete with the top world soccer powerhouses such as Germany, Italy, England, France, Spain, Brazil, etc. The next question that may be asked: "Is Armenia represented?" Of course! The valiant team of Iran (despite its tragic loss against Mexico 1-3) has an Armenian player on its team. His name is Andranik Teymourian. He wears jersey no. 14. Teymourian represents his country of birth Iran, and his country of ethnic origin Armenia with flying color. During the game against Mexico, Teymourian was the Iranian player who was targeted the most to be subjected to fouls by several Mexican players. How about Alecko Eskandarian? Alecko is the American Major League Soccer's top scorer. Had he not been subjected to head injury nearly a year ago he would have surely been qualified to be on team USA. Now he has recovered and continues to out-perform his competitors. He has a lot going for him. He is young, energetic, and currently the top scorer of MLS. Many soccer experts think that his time will come and he will represent USA with élan. How else is Armenia represented at this World Cup? Armenia, Armenians and friends around the world solemnly remember that several countries out of 32 qualified, have recognized the Armenian Genocide, and represent Armenians in a much more valuable arena: political righteousness and morality. Germany, along with USA, France, Argentina, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, has officially recognized the genocide at the hands of Turkey. Armenians and friends also remember when Greece and France officially recognized the genocide respectively in 1996, and 1998, both received the blessings of the one and one half million martyred saints. France became the gracious host of the spectacular 16th FIFA World Cup tournament in 1998. A blessing that was well earned. An added blessing: France became the world champion. Speaking of Greece, the underdog Greeks astonished the world audience and became great Greeks, the champion of Europe in 2004. And now, Armenia, Armenians and friends around the world continue to remember with gratitude that Germany has not only recognized the genocide but also legislated a law against the denial of the Armenian genocide. It is in the spirit of political courage and integrity that Germany is putting to good use this World Cup's official slogan "A time to make friends". Franz Beckenbauer, Germany's most popular soccer player, coach and manager ever, known as the "Kaiser", was one of the architects of then West Germany's victory in 1974 World Cup. The "Kaiser" is now the President of the Organizing Committee Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup. He wrote in the February/March 2006 issue: "... in Leipzig, a city that in 1974, when DFB hosted a World Cup for the first time, belonged to the GDR in a divided Germany, but has since become one of the unmistakable symbols of the peaceful transformation of the political situation both in Germany and Europe. ... We do not want to attach excessive ideological significance to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Nonetheless, I consider it one indicator of how different cultures have come together in recent years in a Europe with many states. At the beginning of the 21st century, 82 million people ... live together peacefully in Germany. And here, following reunification in 1990, millions of people who were moulded and divided by two different political systems have joined together in an open society." Kermania (Germany) of Central Europe is civilized, blessed, vibrant and reunified. Can Ermania of the Caucasus and of the Armenian Highlands in Western Ermania (Armenia) emulate their Kerman "Kaiser" cousins? It's not a question of "if" but "when!" So, can we all start working toward securing Armenia's participation in South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup? Next, can we jointly endeavor for the Armenia 2030 FIFA World Cup possibly in a reunified homeland?

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