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The meeting -- at Sarkisian's office before an unprecedented World Cup qualifying soccer match between the two nations -- marked "a new symbolic start in the countries' relations", Sarkisian said.

The two leaders -- who met despite heavy public opposition in each nation -- "shared opinions on how to bring stability and cooperation to the Caucasus region", including a Turkish proposal for a regional forum to encourage political and economic links with five neighbors, Armenia among them, Gul said at a news conference with Sarkisian.

Turkey proposed the forum following Russia's incursion in Georgia, which borders Armenia and Turkey.

Gul is the first Turkish leader to set foot in Armenia since the former Soviet republic declared independence in 1991.

Some observers believe the meeting could lead to the full diplomatic relations in the near future, Euronews reported. They have had no diplomatic relations and their border has been closed since 1993.

Their animosity goes back to Ottoman-era massacres of Armenians that many historians call a genocide, a label Turkey disputes.

Turkey won Saturday's World Cup qualifying match 2-0.

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