Istanbul to welcome head of Armenian church

Istanbul to welcome head of Armenian church

Karekin II, whose official title is Catholicos of All Armenians, has issued statements saying Turks committed genocide against Armenians around the time of World War I. Turkish nationalist protests during his visit are likely.

Turkey has no relations with Armenia, and vehemently denies that Turks committed genocide, saying Armenians who lived under the Ottoman Empire were killed in internal fighting among ethnic groups as the empire collapsed, the AP reports.