U.S. hopes Gul will accept Armenian President's invitationJuly 14, 2008 - 19:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. administration hopes Turkish President Abdullah Gul to accept the invitation of his Armenian counterpart to watch a qualifying football game in Yerevan in September, Hurriyet daily reports.Officials said if Gul accepts the invitation and visits Yerevan to watch the football game between the Turkish and Armenian national teams, then this would a "great opening." "We want those two neighboring countries to speak to each other, to get closer, and to normalize relations between Ankara and Yerevan. We hope President Abdullah Gul accepts the invitation and visits Yerevan to watch the game," an official was quoted as saying. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan invited in early July Turkish President Abdullah Gul to watch the football match in Yerevan between the two countries on Sept. 6 for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers to mark "a new start in relations". Gul is yet to declare his official decision on the invitation as the evaluation of the Turkish foreign ministry continues. Turkey is among the first countries that recognized Armenia when it declared its independency. "However there is no diplomatic relations between two countries, as Armenia presses the international community to admit the genocide claims," the newspaper says. However, a warm exchange of letters between Sargsyan and Gul in late April raised optimism for a fresh initiative to normalize relations, while Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan then expressed his hope that Sargsyan's election victory will "lead to a new period in relations." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 |