U.S. urges Armenian President to visit Turkey for a soccer game

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States said Monday that Turkish-Armenian efforts to normalize ties would benefit if President Serzh Sarkisian of Armenia visited Turkey for a soccer game between the two countries, AFP reports.



Phil Gordon, the US assistant secretary of State for European affairs, said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York that he understood that "the Armenian president has been invited to Turkey for the return" World Cup qualifying match.



"We think it would be a good thing if he attended it, reciprocating the attendance of the Turkish president of the match when it was in Armenia," Gordon told reporters when asked to comment on a reciprocal visit.



"It would be a good sign and further evidence of the two countries coming together if he went to the football match," Gordon said after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met separately with the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers in New York.



In Ankara, Turkish officials said Sunday that Turkey and Armenia will sign a landmark deal to establish diplomatic ties next month in Switzerland in a bid to end decades of animosity over World War I massacres.