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Merinews, India
Sept 7 2008
Armenia-Turkey relationship improves after decades
The Turkish president Abdullah Gul met his Armenian counterpart, Serzh
Sarkisian over a football match between the two nations. Amid protests
they decided to end the enmity over the killings of Armenians by the
Ottomans during the First World War..
DESPITE VEHEMENT protests by the Armenian citizens, the Turkish
president, Abdullah Gul and his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarkisian
decided to overcome decades of enmity and disagreement over the
massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman forces during the First World
War. This decision was taken by the leaders of both states after the
Turkish head came to Yerevan to enjoy a football match between Turkey
and Armenia at Hrazdan stadium on Saturday (September 6). Both agreed
to forget the past rivalries that existed between them for decades and
attempted to build an amicable relationship now. After returning to
Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Gul told the media that his visit to
Yerevan was successful from every aspect. A friendly relationship is
essential for the overall development of the two neighbouring states.
Gul is also the first Turkish president who has visited Armenia after
the First World War. His Armenian counterpart, Sarkisian also stated
before the media on Sunday (September 7) that only a positive
political will would block all negative impressions from being passed
to the next generation.
Though the two state heads are trying their best to mitigate all kinds
of political tension between them, the Armenian people showed vehement
protest against such an attempt. Several hundred angry protesters
queued at the route of Gul's motorcade, holding aloft the Armenian
flag and nationalist emblems.
Meanwhile, the football match was conducted amid an impregnable
security with a Turkey beating Armenia 2-0. To avert any kind of
violence, Gul had to watch the match from behind a special
bullet-proof cover.
Turkey and Armenia had no diplomatic relations after the First World
War as 1.5 million Armenians were brutally killed between 1915 and
1917 in orchestrated massacres by the Ottoman Turks, which was
referred by the Armenians as 'genocide'. But, Turkey rejected the
label of 'genocide' and argued that at least 3,00,000 to 5,00,000
Armenians and Turks died in civil strife when Armenians declared
independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with the invading Russian
troops, thereby favouring the bullets.
Sept 7 2008
Armenia-Turkey relationship improves after decades
The Turkish president Abdullah Gul met his Armenian counterpart, Serzh
Sarkisian over a football match between the two nations. Amid protests
they decided to end the enmity over the killings of Armenians by the
Ottomans during the First World War..
DESPITE VEHEMENT protests by the Armenian citizens, the Turkish
president, Abdullah Gul and his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarkisian
decided to overcome decades of enmity and disagreement over the
massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman forces during the First World
War. This decision was taken by the leaders of both states after the
Turkish head came to Yerevan to enjoy a football match between Turkey
and Armenia at Hrazdan stadium on Saturday (September 6). Both agreed
to forget the past rivalries that existed between them for decades and
attempted to build an amicable relationship now. After returning to
Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Gul told the media that his visit to
Yerevan was successful from every aspect. A friendly relationship is
essential for the overall development of the two neighbouring states.
Gul is also the first Turkish president who has visited Armenia after
the First World War. His Armenian counterpart, Sarkisian also stated
before the media on Sunday (September 7) that only a positive
political will would block all negative impressions from being passed
to the next generation.
Though the two state heads are trying their best to mitigate all kinds
of political tension between them, the Armenian people showed vehement
protest against such an attempt. Several hundred angry protesters
queued at the route of Gul's motorcade, holding aloft the Armenian
flag and nationalist emblems.
Meanwhile, the football match was conducted amid an impregnable
security with a Turkey beating Armenia 2-0. To avert any kind of
violence, Gul had to watch the match from behind a special
bullet-proof cover.
Turkey and Armenia had no diplomatic relations after the First World
War as 1.5 million Armenians were brutally killed between 1915 and
1917 in orchestrated massacres by the Ottoman Turks, which was
referred by the Armenians as 'genocide'. But, Turkey rejected the
label of 'genocide' and argued that at least 3,00,000 to 5,00,000
Armenians and Turks died in civil strife when Armenians declared
independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with the invading Russian
troops, thereby favouring the bullets.