Armenia’s FM Nalbandyan handing Turkey’s President Erdogan an official invitation from President Serzh Sargsyan to participate in the centenary commemorations of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that his country will mark the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24, 2015. In order to mark the occasion, Erdogan has extended invitations to dozens of world leaders, including to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
The Turkish Anadolu state media agency writes that as the Armenians are preparing to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Turkish President has responded with this “diplomatic” maneuver.
“The 1915 battle took place in the Dardanelles Strait in Canakkale province’s district of Gallipoli, marking a turnaround in the fortunes of the Turks during the First World War. Turkey commemorates Canakkale Victory Day and Martyrs’ Day on March 18,” Anadolu writes.
Deniz Zeyrek writes in the Hurriyet Daily News, “As part of Ankara’s charm offensive ahead of the centennial anniversary of the mass killings of Anatolian Armenians, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken the unprecedented diplomatic step of extending 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.”
On January 15, at a joint press conference with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Erdogan stated: “On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Cannakale, there will be a number of events on April 24, my brother Aliyev and I will be present at those events, leaders of different countries will also be invited.”
Azerbaijan’s President thanked Erdogan for choosing April 24 as the date to mark the centenary of Cannakale and stressed that Armenia is unwilling to take part in any resolution.
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan attended Erdogan’s inauguration on August 28, 2014 at the Presidential Palace. Following the official ceremony, Nalbandyan had a short chat with Erdogan where he handed him an official invitation from Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan to participate in the centenary commemoration of the Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2015 in Yerevan.