The German parliament approved a non-binding resolution Thursday recognizing Armenian claims of “genocide” during the 1915 events.
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Erdogan said that first of all, it was made a decision to recall Turkey’s ambassador from Germany for political consultations, TRT Haber news channel reported June 2.
The Turks have already recalled their ambassador to Germany. “This decision is null and void for Turkey”, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said. Armenia’s president and foreign minister welcomed the vote.
Erdogan has offered muted condolences for the 1915 killings, saying that there were indeed events with “inhumane consequences” during World War I, but Turkey wholly denies the murders ever amounted to genocide.
The resolution could also raise tensions with Germany’s roughly 3.5 million-strong Turkish community. She added, however, that “controversial arguments over some questions are part of a democratic culture”. ‘In fact, it is a precondition for understanding, reconciliation and cooperation’.
Revealing the pressure that lawmakers came under over the vote, parliament speaker Norbert Lammert said that “many threats were sent to colleagues, particularly those with Turkish background, including death threats”.
“It is of course fantastic, but it is very sad that the German government, which is so intelligent and has experienced some history of its own, needed so long to accomplish this”, said one man.
More than 20 nations, including France and Russian Federation, as well as Pope Francis, have recognised the 1915 killings as genocide.
Among the countries which do not call the atrocities a genocide are the United States and Britain.
The issue of the genocide of Armenians is particularly sensitive in Germany, since it has special ties with Ankara, among other things because of the three million Turks who live in the country, according to AFP.
Merkel’s coalition first presented a resolution in April 2015 after German President Joachim Gauck condemned the Armenians’ suffering a year ago on the 100th anniversary. His comments marked a shift in Germany’s stance after officials previously avoided the term.
Yildirim said he had personally urged Merkel to work against the vote and that she had promised to do all she could.
“I am confident that by acknowledging this grave crime committed a hundred years ago, we can prevent the recurrence of new crimes against humanity”, Sharmazanov said. While it is symbolically significant, it has no legal effect. A huge chunk of the refugees – most of whom fled war and persecution in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan – have settled in Germany after entering Europe.
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“We wish Germany would not allow such an irrational issue”, Yildirim told governing party members on Thursday, hours before the vote.
