YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: Armenian ambassador to Germany, Karine Ghazinian, argued today that a largely- expected victory of conservative Christian Democratic Union-Christian Social Union (CSU/CSU) bloc in pre-term parliamentary poll , would result in more favorable conditions for Germany to recognize officially the 1915 Armenian genocide.
On April 22 the German parliament agreed on a resolution that asked Ankara to accept its role in the expulsion and massacre during and after World War I that killed up to 1.5 million Armenians. Mrs. Ghazinian said the resolution is very likely to win a final approval by lawmakers before they leave for a summer recess. The resolution that avoids the word "genocide," calls on Turkey to "take historic responsibility" for the massacres of Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government and ask forgiveness from the descendents of the victims. The ambassador said she had received assurances of many of Bundestag members, who, despite their involvement in a new election campaign, said the resolution would be passed before pre-term parliamentary elections. She also said the new resolution would use the word "genocide." She also said the Armenian community of Germany is working hard to have the resolution passed.
The three-page resolution also recognizes a limited German role that was Turkey's main ally in the World War I in the massacres that killed between 1.2 and 1.5 million Armenians. Gernot Erler, the Social Democratic (SPD) deputy foreign affairs spokesman in the Bundestag had said in a statement. "The Bundestag asks the Armenian people for their forgiveness." The resolution was condemned by Turkey's ambassador to Germany, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, as containing "countless factual errors" written "in agreement with propaganda efforts of fanatic Armenians." Germany has been reluctant to address the issue of Turkish and Armenian history in the past largely due to its own 2.5 million Turkish residents.
On April 22 the German parliament agreed on a resolution that asked Ankara to accept its role in the expulsion and massacre during and after World War I that killed up to 1.5 million Armenians. Mrs. Ghazinian said the resolution is very likely to win a final approval by lawmakers before they leave for a summer recess. The resolution that avoids the word "genocide," calls on Turkey to "take historic responsibility" for the massacres of Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government and ask forgiveness from the descendents of the victims. The ambassador said she had received assurances of many of Bundestag members, who, despite their involvement in a new election campaign, said the resolution would be passed before pre-term parliamentary elections. She also said the new resolution would use the word "genocide." She also said the Armenian community of Germany is working hard to have the resolution passed.
The three-page resolution also recognizes a limited German role that was Turkey's main ally in the World War I in the massacres that killed between 1.2 and 1.5 million Armenians. Gernot Erler, the Social Democratic (SPD) deputy foreign affairs spokesman in the Bundestag had said in a statement. "The Bundestag asks the Armenian people for their forgiveness." The resolution was condemned by Turkey's ambassador to Germany, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, as containing "countless factual errors" written "in agreement with propaganda efforts of fanatic Armenians." Germany has been reluctant to address the issue of Turkish and Armenian history in the past largely due to its own 2.5 million Turkish residents.