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Al-Monitor
Jan 18 2015
Erdogan's surprise invitation to Armenian president
Author: Milliyet (Turkey)
Posted January 18, 2015
This year, April 24 means more than it has in earlier years. Every
year, Turkey celebrates March 18 as the anniversary of the Canakkale
[Dardanelles] victory over the Allies, although the war on that front
continued until the end of 1915. The most critical period was between
March 18 and April 25. On April 25, 1915, after sustaining a heavy
defeat in the naval war, Anzacs [Australian and New Zealand soldiers]
serving under the British Imperial Army landed on Ottoman soil to
destroy the Turkish artillery batteries at Gallipoli -- which were
blocking naval passage -- to pass through the Dardanelles Strait and
reach Istanbul. In bloody battles that lasted until December 1915, the
Anzacs were defeated. After the Allied forces suffered a major naval
defeat on March 18, they decided to capture Gallipoli and landed
massive forces. Their final defeat and withdrawal was on April 25.
This is why the grandchildren of the Anzacs of the Australian-New
Zealand Corps come to Canakkale every year on April 25 and Aug. 6-9 to
commemorate the second-wave landings of their grandfathers who fought
there.
2015 is the 100th anniversary of that legendary period.
The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand had already announced
that they planned to hold more meaningful and impressive observances
on the centenary. About 9,000 Australians and 2,000 New Zealanders are
planning to come to Canakkale. Australia's and New Zealand's prime
ministers, and Britain's Prince Charles and his two sons, are expected
to attend the ceremonies this year.
Invitation to Sargsyan
Ankara is busily preparing to observe the anniversary of the
Dardanelles war in a more impressive manner this year. As part of the
plan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent out letters of invitation to
102 heads of state to attend the April 23-24 observances. Top
officials of all states that fought in World War I have been invited
to ceremonies at Canakkale.
One of those letters is truly significant.
We found out that President Erdogan sent an invitation letter to
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
Another significant recipient of an invitation is US President Barack
Obama, whose language on allegations of Armenian genocide is carefully
listened to by Turkey.
On April 23, two days before the Anzac commemoration day, a peace
summit is planned for Istanbul. On April 24, the main observances will
be held at Canakkale, with the participation of all the heads of state
taking part in the summit.
'We fought together'
A government official speaking to Milliyet noted that top officials
were invited by Erdogan and Davutoglu with a message that read: "We
will be delighted to see you among us on the 100th anniversary of
Canakkale battles." The same official said Armenian President Sargsyan
is among 102 state officials who were invited. He said many young
ethnic fighters, including Armenians, fought alongside Turkish
soldiers and fallen martyrs at Canakkale. "In a way, we fought
together. That is why Sargsyan has been invited," he said.
Centenary of the deportations
The date of April 24, 1915, when the edict for Armenian deportations
was issued, has been a source of tension between Turkey and Armenia.
This year is also the 100th anniversary of the date that the Armenians
observe as the anniversary of the genocide. This is why the timing of
Ankara's invitation is significant.
Armenians and the Armenian diaspora are preparing for wide-scale
observances for the centenary.
Positive responses from Obama and Sargsyan to this invitation would be
a major surprise. President Obama's program doesn't include such an
occasion.
Even if Obama and Sargsyan don't attend the ceremonies at Canakkale,
the invitation by President Erdogan, who last year issued the first
ever message of condolence to the grandchildren of Armenians and
called it an event that had inhuman consequences, is definitely an
important new step that will go down in history as his second
surprise.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2015/01/turkey-armenia-second-big-surprise.html#
Jan 18 2015
Erdogan's surprise invitation to Armenian president
Author: Milliyet (Turkey)
Posted January 18, 2015
This year, April 24 means more than it has in earlier years. Every
year, Turkey celebrates March 18 as the anniversary of the Canakkale
[Dardanelles] victory over the Allies, although the war on that front
continued until the end of 1915. The most critical period was between
March 18 and April 25. On April 25, 1915, after sustaining a heavy
defeat in the naval war, Anzacs [Australian and New Zealand soldiers]
serving under the British Imperial Army landed on Ottoman soil to
destroy the Turkish artillery batteries at Gallipoli -- which were
blocking naval passage -- to pass through the Dardanelles Strait and
reach Istanbul. In bloody battles that lasted until December 1915, the
Anzacs were defeated. After the Allied forces suffered a major naval
defeat on March 18, they decided to capture Gallipoli and landed
massive forces. Their final defeat and withdrawal was on April 25.
This is why the grandchildren of the Anzacs of the Australian-New
Zealand Corps come to Canakkale every year on April 25 and Aug. 6-9 to
commemorate the second-wave landings of their grandfathers who fought
there.
2015 is the 100th anniversary of that legendary period.
The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand had already announced
that they planned to hold more meaningful and impressive observances
on the centenary. About 9,000 Australians and 2,000 New Zealanders are
planning to come to Canakkale. Australia's and New Zealand's prime
ministers, and Britain's Prince Charles and his two sons, are expected
to attend the ceremonies this year.
Invitation to Sargsyan
Ankara is busily preparing to observe the anniversary of the
Dardanelles war in a more impressive manner this year. As part of the
plan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent out letters of invitation to
102 heads of state to attend the April 23-24 observances. Top
officials of all states that fought in World War I have been invited
to ceremonies at Canakkale.
One of those letters is truly significant.
We found out that President Erdogan sent an invitation letter to
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
Another significant recipient of an invitation is US President Barack
Obama, whose language on allegations of Armenian genocide is carefully
listened to by Turkey.
On April 23, two days before the Anzac commemoration day, a peace
summit is planned for Istanbul. On April 24, the main observances will
be held at Canakkale, with the participation of all the heads of state
taking part in the summit.
'We fought together'
A government official speaking to Milliyet noted that top officials
were invited by Erdogan and Davutoglu with a message that read: "We
will be delighted to see you among us on the 100th anniversary of
Canakkale battles." The same official said Armenian President Sargsyan
is among 102 state officials who were invited. He said many young
ethnic fighters, including Armenians, fought alongside Turkish
soldiers and fallen martyrs at Canakkale. "In a way, we fought
together. That is why Sargsyan has been invited," he said.
Centenary of the deportations
The date of April 24, 1915, when the edict for Armenian deportations
was issued, has been a source of tension between Turkey and Armenia.
This year is also the 100th anniversary of the date that the Armenians
observe as the anniversary of the genocide. This is why the timing of
Ankara's invitation is significant.
Armenians and the Armenian diaspora are preparing for wide-scale
observances for the centenary.
Positive responses from Obama and Sargsyan to this invitation would be
a major surprise. President Obama's program doesn't include such an
occasion.
Even if Obama and Sargsyan don't attend the ceremonies at Canakkale,
the invitation by President Erdogan, who last year issued the first
ever message of condolence to the grandchildren of Armenians and
called it an event that had inhuman consequences, is definitely an
important new step that will go down in history as his second
surprise.
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2015/01/turkey-armenia-second-big-surprise.html#