In a major reversal in Turkey’s top trading partner in the European Union and home to millions of Turks, Germany joins other nations and institutions including France, the European parliament and Pope Francis in using the term condemned by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert said the government would support a resolution in parliament on Friday declaring it an example of genocide.
Germany had long resisted using the term “genocide” even though France and other nations have. But the coalition government came under pressure from parliamentary deputies in their own ranks planning to use the word in a resolution.
“The government backs the draft resolution…in which the fate of the Armenians during World War One serves as an example of the history of mass murders, ethnic cleansings, expulsions and, yes, the genocides during the 20th century,” Seibert said.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had rejected using the word genocide in an ARD TV interview on Sunday, denying any suggestion it was being avoided to avoid upsetting Turkey.
“Responsibility can’t be reduced to a single term,” he said.
Members of parliament in the conservative Christian Democrats and their Social Democrat (SPD) allies forced the change...
[asbarez.com by Reuters]
20/4/15
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Génocide: la Turquie dit "partager les souffrances" des Arméniens...
ReplyDeleteLa Turquie "partage les souffrances des enfants et des petits-enfants" des Arméniens, a déclaré lundi le bureau du Premier ministre, à l'occasion du centenaire du début de leur génocide sous l'empire ottoman qu'Ankara nie catégoriquement....rtbf.be
20/4/15