German Nobel Prize-winning author Guenter Grass urged Turkey to acknowledge the country's crime against Armenians during World War I, DPA reported.

Speaking while on a visit to Istanbul, Grass said such recognition would be the most important step which Turkey could take in the direction of joining Europe.

"When will the moment arrive that the crime of the annihilation of the Armenians in 1915-1916 will be recognized as fact?" he asked. "I hope it will be soon," he added.

His remarks were the latest in the ongoing controversy over Turkey's official stance regarding the Armenian Genocide.