June 7, 2016 - 14:21 AMT
Vicar ridicules himself by apologizing for Bundestag’s Genocide recognition

Archbishop Aram Atesyan, General Vicar of Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, sent a letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the Armenian Genocide resolution by the German Bundestag.

The German Bundestag on June 2 adopted a resolution on the recognition and the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

The vote was unanimous in supporting the resolution with just one MP voting against and another one abstaining.

Titled “Remembrance and commemoration of the Genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in the years 1915 and 1916,” the resolution passed with support from all the parties in Parliament. It was put forward by Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative bloc, their partners in the government, the Social Democrats, and the opposition Greens.

In the letter, Atesyan defined the passing of the resolution as “abuse of Armenian nation by imperialist forces”. Claiming that the decision caused a "deep regret" in Armenian nation, he said “we submit our regret to your dignified office,” Agos reports.

“The decision that Bundestag made about the events that happened during the tragic times of World War I caused regret in our nation. As the Turkish Armenians society, we submit our regret to your dignified office as an expression of our heartfelt and sincere feelings,” Atesyan said.

“It is unacceptable that a parliament, which was formed by the votes of German citizens and has the duty of establishing laws for peace, prosperity and security of its nation, expressed its opinion, though it has no right to do so.”

In the letter, Atesian claims that “sliding the role of German Reich over by a few sentences” and pointing the Ottoman Turkey as the sole perpetrator is “ethically controversial.” Also, he said, it is questionable to what extent the decision expresses the feelings of German citizens.

“Using this tragedy that traumatized the Armenian nation in international politics causes sorrow and pain. This resolution and similar resolutions hit us hard. Unfortunately, this historical pain of Armenian nation is considered as a tool for punishing Turkish state and nation,” Atesyan added.