Robert Fisk wrote in yesterday’s Independent about how Turkey will, for the first time, commemorate the ‘Battle of Gallipoli’ on April 24th, the same day Armenians commemorate the genocide.
The battle of Gallipoli began in March 1915 and lasted until January 1916.
Armenian President, Serzh Sargsyan, responded to an invitation to the event by accusing Turkey of attempting to take the attention away from Armenia’s genocide commemoration.
Sargsyan wrote in an open letter:
“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? Whereas, 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.”