Sources in the Administration of the President and Prime Minister of Turkey have disclaimed the reports on cancellations of the Gallipoli centennial commemorations, Daily Sabah writes. According to the source, the cancellation reports were disseminated by Today's Zaman - the media outlet supporting President Erdogan's opponent Fethulah Gulen.
According to Today's Zaman, the centennial commemorations of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I initiated by the Turkish government and to be celebrated on April 24 of this year -- the same date as the centennial commemorations of the "Armenian genocide" -- have been cancelled due to the unwillingness of international leaders to visit Ankara and overshadow the genocide ceremonies in Yerevan. The Gallipoli celebrations have been cancelled. All preparations have been suspended as the number of RSVPs to the invitation is not positive. Only five countries have accepted the invitation and they will not be represented by high-level officials.