ERDOGAN INVITES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO TURKEY ON APRIL 24
12:52, 16 Jan 2015
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has extended an invitation to
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to ceremonies marking the centenary
of the Battle of Gallipoli in Canakkale in late April, which coincides
with the Armenian Remembrance Day, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.
With plans to hold massive ceremonies to mark the centenary of
the Battle of Gallipoli on April 23 and 24, Erdogan has sent out
invitations to the leaders of 102 countries, including Armenian
President Sargsyan and U.S. President Barack Obama.
The ANZAC Troops (Australia-New Zealand Army Corps) disembarked onto
the shores of Canakkkale on April 25, 1915 in a bid to destroy Turkish
artillery units, but were defeated in bloody combat that continued
until December 1915. Ever since, Australians and New Zealanders
have commemorated the Battle of Gallipoli on April 25, on the date
of the first landing, and on Aug 6 to Aug 10, the second landing of
the ANZAC troops.
Marking the 100th anniversary of the battle for Turkey, Australia and
New Zealand, the Turkish government is set to organize ceremonies with
the participation of 8,500 Australians and 2,000 New Zealanders. The
U.K.’s Prince Charles and his two sons, and the prime ministers of
Australia and New Zealand, are expected to take part in commemorations.
A day before the April 24 ceremonies in Canakkale, the government
is planning to host a reception and a “Summit of Peace” in Istanbul
on April 23, the day when Turkey marks the 95th anniversary of the
foundation of the Turkish Parliament.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has signed invitation letters
to his counterparts, while President Erdogan has sent letters to the
heads of state, accompanied by the message, “We would be delighted
to have you with us on the 100th anniversary commemorations of the
Battle of Gallipoli.”
Speaking to daily Hurriyet, a government official recalled that along
with the many other ethnic groups who fought in the ranks of the
Ottoman military, the Armenians also fought at Gallipoli. “We fought
together in Gallipoli. That’s why we have extended the invitation to
Sargsyan as well,” the official added.
However, April 24, 1915 is also the date of commemoration of the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Sargsyan has invited world
leaders to Yerevan on the same day, and neither Sargsyan nor Obama
are expected to accept Turkey’s invitation to attend the ceremonies
in Turkey.