TransWorldNews (press release), GA
Sept 6 2008

Turkish President Abdullah Gul Travels to Armenia, Angers Nationalists

Atlanta, Ga. 9/06/2008 04:19 PM GMT (TransWorldNews – Top Story)

Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia on Saturday to
attend a World Cup qualifying match between the two countries,
becoming the first leader from Turkey to ever enter the county.

Gul was invited by Armenia’s President Serge Sarkisian to
attend the match, the first ever played between the neighboring
countries who have shared a cold relationship for nearly 100 years.

Before leaving Gul had said he hoped that relationship could thaw but
many Turkish nationalists have called the President’s visit
a betrayal.

Those nationalists have taken exception to claims made by Armenia that
Ottoman forces were guilty of carrying out the genocide of Armenian
citizens during World War I. At the time Armenia was still a part of
the Soviet Union.

Turkey has recognized the deaths but has denied any genocide claims,
calling the killings a part of the war. Turkish nationalists now see
Gul’s visit to Armenia, who gained their independence in
1991, as a betrayal of national interest.

The countries share no diplomatic times.