Turkish President makes historic visit

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 09-08-2008 11:31

Turkey's President has made a historic visit to Armenia. Abdullah Gul was invited to Yerevan to watch the Soccer World Cup qualifier between his nation and Armenia, alongside Armenian President Serge Sar-kisian. Gul was the first Turkish leader to set foot in Armenia since it declared independence in 1991.

Many hope the so-called football diplomacy will help the two neighbors overcome decades of antagonism.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (R) meets his Turkish  counterpart Abdullah Gul during a meeting in Yerevan. The  presidents of Armenia and Turkey pledged Saturday to  overcome decades of enmity between their two nations during  the first visit to Yerevan by a Turkish head of state. (AFP/Karen Minasyan)

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic ties.And their border has been closed since 1993, when Turkey protested Armenia's occupation of a region of Azerbaijan, a close Turkish ally.

Thousands of Armenians lined the streets of the capital Saturday to protest against Gul's visit. The demonstrators were also demanding that Turkey acknowledge the World War I massacres of Armenian civilians as genocide.

But not all Armenians were against the visit.