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Interfax, Russia
Jan 16 2015
Armenian president refuses to visit Turkey on day of Armenian Genocide
commemoration
YEREVAN. Jan 16
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has declined an invitation from
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Turkey to attend a
ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli.
"Before organizing a commemorative event, Turkey has much more
important obligation towards its own people and the entire humanity,
namely the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide," the
Armenian president said in an official response to the invitation
circulated by the presidential press service on Friday.
"Alas, Turkey continues its traditional policy of denialism. Year by
year, 'improving' its tools of history distortion, this time Turkey
marks the anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24 for the
first time, while it began on March 18, 1915 and lasted till late
January, 1916. Furthermore, allies' land campaign - Gallipoli land
battle - took place on April 25, 1915. What purpose does it serve if
not a simple-minded goal to distract the attention of the
international community from the events dedicated to the centennial of
the Armenian Genocide?" he said.
The Armenian president pointed out that he had invited his Turkish
counterpart several months before to visit Yerevan on April 24, 2015
in order "to join us in commemoration of memory of the innocent
victims of the Armenian Genocide."
"It is not a common practice for us to be hosted at the invitee's,
without receiving a response to our invitation," Sargsyan said.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet had reported earlier on Friday with
reference to diplomatic sources that the Turkish president had
forwarded an invitation to the Armenian president to attend the
ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli
(Dardanelles), which Turkey will hold on April 23 and 24.
From: Baghdasarian
Jan 16 2015
Armenian president refuses to visit Turkey on day of Armenian Genocide
commemoration
YEREVAN. Jan 16
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has declined an invitation from
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Turkey to attend a
ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli.
"Before organizing a commemorative event, Turkey has much more
important obligation towards its own people and the entire humanity,
namely the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide," the
Armenian president said in an official response to the invitation
circulated by the presidential press service on Friday.
"Alas, Turkey continues its traditional policy of denialism. Year by
year, 'improving' its tools of history distortion, this time Turkey
marks the anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24 for the
first time, while it began on March 18, 1915 and lasted till late
January, 1916. Furthermore, allies' land campaign - Gallipoli land
battle - took place on April 25, 1915. What purpose does it serve if
not a simple-minded goal to distract the attention of the
international community from the events dedicated to the centennial of
the Armenian Genocide?" he said.
The Armenian president pointed out that he had invited his Turkish
counterpart several months before to visit Yerevan on April 24, 2015
in order "to join us in commemoration of memory of the innocent
victims of the Armenian Genocide."
"It is not a common practice for us to be hosted at the invitee's,
without receiving a response to our invitation," Sargsyan said.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet had reported earlier on Friday with
reference to diplomatic sources that the Turkish president had
forwarded an invitation to the Armenian president to attend the
ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli
(Dardanelles), which Turkey will hold on April 23 and 24.
From: Baghdasarian