Radio Netherlands, Netherlands
Sept 7 2008

Turkish president in historic visit to Armenia

Published: Saturday 06 September 2008 20:22 UTC
Last updated: Sunday 07 September 2008 14:17 UTC

After a meeting in the Armenian capital Jerevan, Armenian President
Serge Sarkissian and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül have said
they want to improve relations. President Gül was in Armenia on a
historic visit. It is the first time a Turkish head of state has
visited the former Soviet Union republic, which became independent in
1991. There are no diplomatic relations between the two countries and
the border is closed.

A qualifying match for the World Cup between Armenia and Turkey
provided an opportunity for President Sarkissian to invite President
Gül. Turkey won 2-0. A return invitation was extended for the next
match. Relations between Armenia and Turkey are strained because of
the deaths in 1915 of up to 1.5 million Armenians, who were killed or
starved to death during mass deportations by the Ottoman Turks. Ankara
denies that a genocide took place.