ANKARA: Preparations For Gallipoli Centennial Commemorations Not Yet

PREPARATIONS FOR GALLIPOLI CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIONS NOT YET BEGUN

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 4 2015

March 04, 2015, Wednesday/ 18:21:56/ MEHMET GULER / ISTANBUL

Citizens are barred from the memorial site as no preparations have
been made for the centennial commemorations of the Battle of Gallipoli
that are scheduled to take place on March 18, April 24 and April 25.

Because the naval battles were the turning point of an Ottoman Turkish
victory, yearly “Remembrance of Soldiers” and “Gallipoli Naval Victory”
ceremonies are held on March 18.

In addition, April 24 and 25 have also been set aside for ceremonies,
sparking controversy as April 24 is also the date of the Armenian
Genocide Remembrance Day. There has been much speculation over the
proceedings because, though the president’s office has sent many
invitations to international leaders, few have been accepted. The
ceremonies were announced five years ago.

The dates approach, and despite the establishment of a Canakkale
Governor’s Office 2015 Coordination Center three years ago and several
meetings held by the offices of the Canakkale Governor’s Office and the
prime minister, no decisions have been made concerning the ceremonies.

Canakkale (Gallipoli) Municipal Mayor Ulgur Gokhan has admitted that
progress has been thwarted, saying; “Work concerning the centennial
is not going well. We have neither a budget nor staff. We are trying
to make it work with own means but they are not enough.”