Armenian president describes Turkey’s April 24 invitation as ‘cynical and shortsighted’

ISTANBUL

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s invitation to ceremonies marking the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli in Çanakkale in late April, which coincides with the remembrance day for the victims of the 1915 mass killings of Armenians, was  “cynical and shortsighted,” Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has said.

“They say any measures are suitable in politics, but I believe Ankara offered a bad service to itself in this matter,” Sargsyan said on Jan. 29, according to ArmeniaNow.com.

Amid plans to hold large ceremonies to mark the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 23 and 24, rather than in the traditional March, Erdoğan sent out invitations to the leaders of 102 countries, including Armenian President Sargsyan and U.S. President Barack Obama.  

Sargsyan rebuffed the invitation in letter addressed to Erdoğan, recalling an invitation extended to the Turkish president to attend ceremonies to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1915 deportation and killing of Ottoman Armenians, which is considered “genocide” by Armenians and many historians.