BERLIN (AP)—Germany’s Parliament is set to use the term genocide in a resolution marking the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks 100 years ago, and the government said today that it “stands behind” the motion drawn up by the ruling parties.
A draft of the non-binding motion to be debated Fri., April 24, says the Armenians’ fate is “exemplary for the history of mass destruction, ethnic cleansing, expulsions and genocides by which the 20th century is marked in such a terrible way.” It stresses Germany’s awareness of the “uniqueness” of the Nazi Holocaust.
Germany’s government so far has avoided referring to the slaughter of up to 1.5 million Armenians as genocide. Turkey vehemently rejects using the term for those killings.
However, there were consultations between lawmakers and the government on the resolution, and government spokesman Steffen Seibert said that “the government, after the talks that have taken place, stands behind this motion.”
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told Monday’s edition of the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that “one could want to summarize what happened then in the term ‘genocide,’ and I can well understand the reasons and certainly the feelings for that.”
He added, however, that he is concerned that “an ever more charged political debate in Ankara and Yerevan could complicate or even make impossible what really matters,” the beginning of a “serious dialogue” between Turks and Armenians.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s governing coalition has a huge parliamentary majority and the motion’s passage looks assured.
That could further anger Turkey, which is already fuming about Pope Francis’ description of the slaughter as “the first genocide of the 20th century.”
Turkey has insisted that the toll has been inflated, and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest, not genocide. It recalled its ambassador to the Vatican following the pontiff’s comments, and also was angered by a subsequent European Parliament resolution commemorating “the centenary of the Armenian genocide.”
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Germany should know better than anyone else. They had the organizational skills to teach the illiterate and uneducated Turk what to do. They then applied those same “skills’ to the Jews
Lets hope Obama also declares what happened between 1915-1918
What is was GENOCIDE
He already has done that.
Yeah, like he said he was going to do if he took office!
If Bundestag adopts such a resolution, it will be the beginning of the end of the faked nation of Turkey. Next step – the creation of Kurdistan.
Germany had a hand in it, so Its about time they acknowledge it.
Barack Obama won’t officially recognize the genocide for two reasons, political and political. Turkey is a NATO Ally, that means we have a huge air force base there, Incirlic (spelling?), so to get even with us if President Obama recognizes the genocide, Turkey would probably shut down the air base and every other US or NATO facility. Then again, more would-be terrorists from all over the world pass through Turkey’s porous borders to join ISIS/ISIL than any other country. Any body can pass through their borders by buying off the guards…it happens all the time. So what else have they done for us lately? I understand also from reading various articles from news organizations that more Turkish citizens join ISIS than any other nationality! With allies like that, who needs enemies?
The Germans have been a major historical ally and a ‘big brother’ to Turkey, hence the big population of ethnic Turks living in Germany. Now if Germany finally calls a spade ‘a spade’ this will put another nail in the denialist’s coffin. Although it will still leave US and UK reluctantly massaging Turkish egos as they watch the noose getting a little tighter around the denialist’s shameful neck, it would be quite a significant step advanced along our struggle for justice.
Armin Wegner testimonies still alive from the horror of Armenian Genocide in German’s Parliament!
Obama has another chance to show his true colours. Lets hope he will pick courage and correct a “wrong” before his term runs out. Not many people get a second chance in life.
Ive said this before do not count on Obama he is a liar anyone who has read or heard what he said before his election knows he is not a man of his word He is also a hater of Christians and never misses an opportunity to mock them However do not be down hearted for we have come a long way We have actualy seen miracles look at the Turks that have rallied on our behalf we have made a mark on history this year that can never be erased GOD BLESS THE ARMENIANS
president reagan already had acknowledged the Genocide so why do we need obama.we don’t need him, he is out soon, what’s the point. do we have to work on everyone that comes in office.. no.
anyways this big American air force base in turkey in on Armenian, I understand the owners have the deeds. mabe that is what everyone is scared of.