The German Bundesdag has approved the draft resolution recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide by an overwhelming majority of voters.
It is known that only one MP voted against the resolution and one more MP abstained.
"The adoption of a resolution on the Armenian genocide by the Bundestag is an example of democratic culture in action," the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said. The Chancellor said at the joint press conference with the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: "When you do not always agree with your partners and disagree on some issues is also a part of democratic culture".
The German government intends to promote the establishment of a dialogue between Turkey and Armenia, including on the issue of understanding the events that occurred in the Ottoman Empire, Merkel said.
"Germany and Turkey have a lot in common," she noted, recalling that about 3 million people who have Turkish roots live in Germany. "Therefore, me and the entire government of Germany intend to contribute to the establishment of a dialogue between Turkey and Armenia," Merkel said.
At the same time the press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, called the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide by the German parliament as "the internal affair."
Turkey’s prime minister Binali Yildirim described the ballot titled 'Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916' as a real test of the friendship between his country and Germany.
Turkey has recalled its Ambassador to Berlin Hüsein Avni Karslioglu for consultations immediately after the German parliament had adopted a resolution recognizing the genocide of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the decision to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide 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.
“The fact that the German Parliament approved distorted and baseless claims as genocide is a historic mistake. The German Parliament’s approval of this bill is not a decision in line with friendly relations between Turkey and Germany. This decision is null and void for Turkey," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said.
"This is an issue that scientists and historians need to reach a conclusion on, not politicians or parliaments. As Turkey, we will surely give the necessary response to this decision in all platforms,” he added.
The head of the European Office of Vestnik Kavkaza, Orkhan Sattarov, wrote earlier that there are no doubts that the resolution will be adopted in Germany. "The draft was prepared by the factions of the ruling 'grand coalition' (CDU / CSU and SPD), as well as the green coalition.'' Germans will hardly go back on their word: the level of distaste for Erdogan and his ruling team surpasses all imaginable limits in Berlin. The diplomatic background between the two countries remains stably tense in recent years. Germany (and the West in general) found common ground with significant figures (Abdullah Gul, Ahmet Davutoglu) in the Turkish government, but they were removed from power. Yes, the matter is not in particular individuals, but еруchange in the structure and logic of the Turkish authoritiesthat led to withdrawal from the big policy and, as a consequence, foreign tone of Turkey in recent years," he noted.
"Germany depends on Ankara now due to the refugee crisis in the Middle East. It adds zest to the situation. If President Erdogan breaks the agreement on refugees because of the recognition of the 'genocide' by of the Bundestag (the implementation has stopped because of some serious disagreements over the introduction of a visa-free regime between Turkey and the EU) it will negatively influence Chancellor Angela Merkel. "The migration pact" with Turkey is largely saving project for Merkel that would reduce social and political tensions in Germany due to the uncontrolled influx of migrants. The discussion of the 'genocide' in the Parliament is obviously not the best present for the Chancellor. But it should be understood that within the CDU / CSU course support of Merkel on the issue is far from perfect," Orkhan Sattarov noted.
