Merkel urges Erdogan to acknowledge history ahead of Genocide centennial

February 8, 2014 - 11:37 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - German Chancellor Angela Merkel scolded Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan over Turkey’s continued denial of the Armenian Genocide and urged the Turkish leader to “face its history,” Asbarez reported citing the Turkish-language version of Hurriyet.

Erdogan, who was on an official visit to Germany, warned Merkel and her ruling Christian Democratic Union party to be more cautious in addressing the upcoming centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

“We are aware that in the coming year there are budgetary allocations in your country for the 100th anniversary of 1915 event,” Erdogan reportedly told Merkel.

“I recommend that you address this issue more carefully and caution your party about any allocations,” added Erdogan.

In response, Merkel reportedly told the Turkish leader that Germany is a democratic country and that her government cannot intervene in decisions.

“Turkey must come to terms with its history. We cannot compare the Armenians living in Armenia with the Armenians who were forcibly dispersed around the world,” said Merkel adding that those in Armenia are living under difficult circumstances and urged Erdogan to open the border.

“You are forcing us to accept something we have not done,” said Erdogan, denying the Armenian Genocide again and claiming that the entire Turkish archives are open to the world.

“Do not do injustice against Turkey,” Erdogan urged Merkel.

Prior to his visit to Germany, a member of the German parliament urged Erdogan to end the denial of the Armenian Genocide and apologize for the crime, reported the Bild newspaper.

Erika Stenbach, a member of Merkel’s party, said: “I urge Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to stop denying the genocide of Armenians and Assyrians by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire 99 years ago,” adding that it is high time for Turkey to apologize to the descendants of the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century.

“It is Erdogan’s duty to face the truth nearly 100 years after that terrible crime and ensure that the Turkish textbooks do not distort this part of Turkish history,” said Steinbach.

Photo: Asbarez

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The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.

The Armenian-Turkish Protocols

The Protocols aimed at normalization of bilateral ties and opening of the border between Armenia and Turkey were signed in Zurich by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on October 10, 2009, after a series of diplomatic talks held through Swiss mediation.

On January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia found the protocols conformable to the country’s Organic Law.

Commenting on the CC ruling, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “it contains preconditions and restrictive provisions which impair the letter and spirit of the Protocols.” ”The decision undermines the very reason for negotiating these Protocols as well as their fundamental objective. This approach cannot be accepted on our part. Turkey, in line with its accustomed allegiance to its international commitments, maintains its adherence to the primary provisions of these Protocols. We expect the same allegiance from the Armenian government,” the Ministry said.