Merkel comments on Bundestag Armenian genocide resolution
02.06.2016,
17:58
Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, who wasn't present for the Bundestag vote today that overwhelmingly labeled the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago as genocide, prompting Turkey to recall its ambassador to Germany, said later in the day that Germany and Turkey enjoy close and friendly relations, adding, however, that "controversial arguments over some questions are part of a democratic culture."
YEREVAN, June 2. /ARKA/. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, who wasn't present for the Bundestag vote today that overwhelmingly labeled the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago as genocide, prompting Turkey to recall its ambassador to Germany, said later in the day that Germany and Turkey enjoy close and friendly relations, adding, however, that "controversial arguments over some questions are part of a democratic culture."
The motion, which was put forward by Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition of right and left and the opposition Greens, passed with support from all the parties in Parliament. In a show of hands, there was one abstention and one vote against.
“There is a lot that binds Germany to Turkey and even if we have a difference of opinion on an individual matter, the breadth of our links, our friendship, our strategic ties, is great,” Merkel said at a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
The chancellor added that Germany supported dialogue between Turkey and Armenia and sought good relations with Ankara.
According to news reports, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "this decision will seriously impact Turkish-German relations." Erdogan said recalling the ambassador for consultations was a "first step" and that the Turkish government would consider further steps to be taken in response to the vote.
Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim called the German decision a "historic error,' saying that Turkish people take pride in their past and that "there is no event in our past that would cause us to bow down our heads in embarrassment."
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event viewed by many scholars as the 20th century's first genocide. -0-
The motion, which was put forward by Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition of right and left and the opposition Greens, passed with support from all the parties in Parliament. In a show of hands, there was one abstention and one vote against.
“There is a lot that binds Germany to Turkey and even if we have a difference of opinion on an individual matter, the breadth of our links, our friendship, our strategic ties, is great,” Merkel said at a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
The chancellor added that Germany supported dialogue between Turkey and Armenia and sought good relations with Ankara.
According to news reports, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that "this decision will seriously impact Turkish-German relations." Erdogan said recalling the ambassador for consultations was a "first step" and that the Turkish government would consider further steps to be taken in response to the vote.
Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim called the German decision a "historic error,' saying that Turkish people take pride in their past and that "there is no event in our past that would cause us to bow down our heads in embarrassment."
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event viewed by many scholars as the 20th century's first genocide. -0-
