Voice of America
Sept 6 2008
Turkish President in Armenia on Historic Trip
By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
06 September 2008
The Turkish President Abdullah Gul arrived in the Armenian capital
Yerevan, the first time a Turkish head of state has visited the
country. Mr. Gul was there to attend a soccer match he said could help
end almost a century of mutual hostility and aid security in the
broader Caucasus region. For VOA, Dorian Jones has this report from
Istanbul.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul (L) and Armenian President Serzh
Sarkisyan shake hands during their meeting in Yerevan, 06 Sep 2008
Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s jet arrived in Armenia on this
historical visit escorted by attack helicopters. Police and
demonstrators lined the traffic-free streets as his motorcade sped
through downtown Yerevan.
Ankara and Yerevan have no diplomatic ties but a relationship haunted
by the question of whether ethnic Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks
during World War One were victims of systematic genocide.
The director of Armenia’s National Genocide Museum, Hayk Demoyan,
hailed Mr. Gul’s visit, saying this could be a positive step in
talking about the issue of genocide.
"Armenians fighting for genocide recognition and for restoring the
rights of the survivors and descendants of the survivors is just part
of the global movement of prevention. So this is not anti-Turkish or
something against Turkish people," said Demoyan. "We also realize that
there a lot of problems in public memory and national memory of Turkey
and Turkish people. That’s why this is a matter of two people. We have
to talk, we have to agree, we have to negotiate."
But the controversy continues to fuel nationalist anger in both
countries.
President Gul was strongly criticized for agreeing to visit Armenia by
both the main Turkish opposition parties, who accused him of betraying
Turkey and its close ally Azerbaijan. Armenia is occupying a region of
Azerbaijani territory, which has resulted in Turkey enforcing a trade
embargo against Armenia since 1993, crippling the Armenian economy.
In Yerevan, reaction to Mr. Gul’s visit is mixed.
This man says Mr. Gul’s visit is of no importance. He says his team
will win in any case. He says he would like Mr. Gul to leave Armenia
in a bad mood, but only because his team has lost the game.
Another man has a more positive view.
He says he thinks that the meeting of the two presidents will discuss
problems which may help to normalize the Armenian-Turkish
relationship.
Turkish diplomatic sources have played down any expectations of a
breakthrough in bilateral relations. But experts say if Mr. Gul’s
visit passes off smoothly, it’s real success can be that it will open
the door to future dialogue.