GUL TO PAY HISTORIC VISIT TO ARMENIA

press tv
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:39:33 GMT

The Turkish President Abdullah Gul is to make a historic visit to
Armenia in a move to end the feud between the two neighboring states.

The Turkish President’s visit, scheduled for Saturday, is the first
by a Turkish head of state to Yerevan following the deaths of Armenian
civilians by Turkish Ottoman Empire forces during World War I.

President Gul will go to Yerevan to attend a football match between
the two countries. Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian invited Gul last
month to attend the qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup finals.

Turkish diplomats and security officials have been in Yerevan this
week making final preparations.

"A visit around this match can create a new climate of friendship in
the region. It is with this in mind that the president has accepted
the invitation," the Turkish presidency said in a statement posted
on its website.

The statement added, "This match could lift the obstacles blocking
the coming together of two peoples who share a common history and
can create a new foundation."

The Turkish presidency also noted that it hoped the visit means
‘an opportunity for a better mutual understanding.’

Turkey has declined to set up diplomatic relations with Armenia since
its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The key reason is
Yerevan’s campaign for the deaths of Armenian civilians in 1915-1917
to be classified as ‘genocide.’

Armenia claims that up to 1.5 million people were killed in
orchestrated mass murders during World War I as the Ottoman Empire
fell apart before being dismantled in 1920.

Turkey however snubs the genocide label and argues that between 250,000
to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife
as Armenians fought for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided
with invading Russian troops.