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ANKARA: Turkey Invites Armenian President To 100th Anniversary Of Ga

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  • ANKARA: Turkey Invites Armenian President To 100th Anniversary Of Ga

    TURKEY INVITES ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GALLIPOLI WAR

    Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
    Jan 16 2015

    Deniz Zeyrek
    ANKARA

    As part of Ankara's charm offensive ahead of the centennial anniversary
    of the mass killings of Anatolian Armenians, President Recep Tayyip
    Erdoðan 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.

    With plans to hold massive ceremonies to mark the centenary of
    the Battle of Gallipoli on April 23 and 24, Erdoðan 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 Davutoðlu has signed invitation letters
    to his counterparts, while President Erdoðan 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 the Ottoman government's
    signing the Deportation Law that led to the deaths of up to a million
    Armenians in their long march south from eastern Anatolia. Armenia and
    the Armenian diaspora mark the day as the "anniversary of genocide"
    committed by the Ottoman Empire, and are planning to hold massive
    ceremonies on the centenary of the mass killings of their ancestors.

    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.

    January/16/2015

    http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-invites-armenian-president-to-100th-anniversary-of-gallipoli-war-.aspx?PageID=238&NID=77002&NewsCatID=510

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