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Protocols setting forth the normalization of relations and establishment diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia will be signed by the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers in Switzerland on Oct. 10. Ahead of the noted meeting, President Gül and Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev met in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic yesterday. The most important item on the agenda of the meeting, which will also be attended by both countries' foreign ministers, will be a Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. Ankara will again inform the Baku administration about steps taken with respect to the Armenian initiative and explain that these steps are not against Azerbaijan.
Before leaving for Nakhchivan, President Gül confirmed that he sent an invitation letter to Armenian President Sarksyan.
Stressing that sports require chivalrous behavior, Gül said: "I went to Armenia without any expectations. Sports bring us together and encourage us to act like gentleman and that is why I went to Armenia. I hope the Armenian president will also approach the issue like this and accept the invitation. If he comes, we will host him in the best way possible."
According to information from diplomatic sources, the invitation letter for the soccer match between the two countries was sent several days ago. The letter was forwarded to the Armenian president through the Turkish Embassy in Georgia. Due to the absence of diplomatic relations, similar correspondences have previously been made through the Turkish Embassy in Georgia, too. "There is only a statement inviting [the president] to a soccer match. It is a diplomatic invitation letter only," one official said, referring to the letter. Officials in Ankara wait for Sarksyan to arrive in Bursa.
Turkish President Gül went to Yerevan to watch the first leg of the soccer match between the Turkish and Armenian national teams upon the invitation of Armenian President Sarksyan on Sept. 6, 2008. Sarksyan is now touring the world to meet with Armenian lobby groups to explain the protocols and to get their approval. The Armenian president will also meet with Azerbaijani President Aliyev on Oct. 8 in Chisinau, Moldova, during the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit.
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