Armenian president Serge Sarkisian has accepted an invitation by Turkish president Abdullah Gul to attend the Oct. 14 football World Cup qualifier between the two countries being held later this week in Turkey.
The announcement comes days after the signing of an agreement to improve relations between two countries that have been in conflict for a century. Considering that Gul attended last years match between the two countries, the move has been defined as "soccer diplomacy" by many.
"The president of Turkey came to Armenia at my invitation and I don't see a serious reason not to accept his invitation," Sarkisian told reporters on Monday. "If in the coming two days nothing extraordinary happens, I'll accept his invitation. I'll go to Bursa and support our team."
Conflict between the two countries arose as a result of World War I massacres in which Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turkish forces. As part of the agreement, historians will examine the situation to determine conflicting figures on the death toll and if claims of genocide are valid.
