YEREVAN. – As per turkologist Artak Shakaryan, even though the decision to celebrate the Battle of Gallipoli victory centennial on April 24 of this year was a wrong decision on the part of the Turkish authorities, this decision was not a surprise.

“Turkey had long planned, ever since March 2013, that it will mark April 24 of this year as the Dardanelles victory day. This was a wrong decision because they [, Turkey,] usually commemorate it in mid-March, but it was not a surprise,” Shakaryan told reporters on Monday.

The turkologist considered the Turkish president’s extending invitations to 102 world leaders, including the President of Armenia, to attend these celebrations on April 24 to be an interesting diplomatic move.

“[With this move], they are attempting to create a contiguous uproar; that is, they are raising other commotion parallel to the uproar Armenians create on April 24,” the turkologist stated. He added that these measures by Turkey are aimed at stifling the commotion the Armenian side raises.

Artak Shakaryan also expressed the hope that the commemoration events, which the Armenian side will hold, will not be limited to April 24—the centenary of the Armenian Genocide—, and that they will be held throughout the year.