Gallipoli Commemoration in Turkey Cancelled?

Todays Zaman published an article today saying that the Turkish government has decided to cancel centennial commemorations of the Gallipoli Campaign of World War One. According to the piece, the commemoration was cancelled “due to the unwillingness of international leaders to visit Ankara and overshadow the genocide ceremonies in Yerevan.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited world leaders to participate in the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign on April 24, 2015 in Turkey. Up until 2013, Turkey commemorated Gallipoli on March 18, also known as Canakkale Victory and Martyr’s Day.

This move left little doubt that the Turkish government was attempting to divert the world’s attention from the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, which will be marked this year, as always, on April 24.

In what many saw as a cynical move, Erdogan also extended an invitation to Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan to participate in the ceremonies. Sargsyan, for his part, swiftly responded by saying that Turkey continues its traditional policy of denial and that Turkey “has a more important responsibility toward its own people and all of humanity – to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide.”

On February 5, a number of human rights organizations in Turkey issued a statement, urging world leaders not to participate in the Gallipoli ceremonies and instead go to Yerevan on April 24 to participate in the commemorations for the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

According to the Zaman, an official from the government, who wished to remain anonymous said, “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.”

The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Canakkale (Canakkale Savasi - Turkish) was spearheaded by the Lord of the British Admiralty, Winston Churchill during World War I. The disastrous campaign, led by the British was intended to secure a sea route from the Gallipoli peninsula, the northern bank of the Dardanelles (the Ottoman Empire at the time) to the Russian Empire. This campaign by the Allies on April 25, 1915 involved British, French, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and aimed to secure Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). Poor planning, lack of sufficient intelligence and knowledge of the terrain coupled with fierce Turkish resistance led to heavy casualties on both sides and the eventual withdrawal of Allied forces to Egypt.

Canakkale Savasi has a very significant place in Turkish history, it has become a symbol of how the Ottoman army was able to hold back a multinational force and "prevent them from invading the Turkish homeland." It is equally significant for Australia and New Zealand; for these two countries, the campaign remains a sense of national pride and identity.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had made it clear that official Ankara will actively challenge Armenian attempts at forcing a change in the 100 year narrative of Turkish denial in this most crucial commemorative year.