Erdogan invites Serzh Sargsyan to 100th anniversary of Gallipoli War in April - ermenihaber.am
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has extended an invitation to his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsyan to attend ceremonies marking the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli in Canakkale in late April, Ermenihaber.am reports citing Turkish Milliyet daily. Earlier, Erdogan said Turkey will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Canakkale Victory on April 24, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The source says Erdogan has sent out invitations to the leaders of more than 102 countries, including Armenian leader Serzh Sargsyan and U.S. President Barack Obama, to come for massive ceremonies on April 23-24. It is noteworthy that Erdogan has also invited Barack Obama who annually makes a traditional speech on the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Speaking to Turkish Hurriyet Daily News, a Turkish government official said Armenians also fought at Gallipoli in the ranks of the Ottoman military along with many other ethnic groups. “We fought together in Gallipoli. That’s why we have extended the invitation to Sargsyan as well,” the unnamed official added. “If Obama and Seargsyan accept the initiation of the Turkish President, it will remain as a surprise in the history,” Milliyet writes. The Turkish media described Erdogan’s move as a historic step. Official Yerevan has not yet reacted to the invitation from Erdogan, but Hurriyet writes that neither Sargsyan nor Obama are expected to accept the Turkish invitation to attend the ceremonies in Turkey.
