(PARIS) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday welcomed Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul's visit to neighbouring Armenia as "courageous and historic."

"While the region is in the midst of a serious crisis, (his visit) is a courageous and historic gesture for Turkish-Armenian relations," Sarkozy, who currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, said in a statement.

"It allows hope for progress soon in establishing normal relations between Turkey and Armenia," he added.

Gul made his landmark visit to Turkey's eastern neighbour -- the first by a Turkish head of state to the ex-Soviet nation -- for the first of two World Cup qualifiers between the two national teams.

The two countries -- which have no diplomatic relations -- have waged an international diplomatic battle over Yerevan's efforts to have the 1915-1917 massacre of Armenians recognised as genocide.

Sarkozy paid "tribute to the political courage of President Gul and President (Serzh) Sarkisian" and said he was hoping that reaching out will allow both countries to show the world that "reconciliation is possible through openness, dialogue and the respect of others."

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