Turkey recalls envoy to Brazil over Armenian Genocide recognition

PanARMENIAN.Net - In a statement issued on Monday, June 8, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that it recalled its ambassador to Brazil after the country's Federal Senate recognized the Armenian Genocide, Prensa Armenia reports.

"We condemn the Resolution of the Brazilian Senate on the events of 1915, which distorts the historical truths and ignores the law, and consider it as an example of irresponsibility," the ministry said.

"Political decisions of this nature, taken under the influence of the Armenian lobbies can neither change the historical facts nor the legal norms. In this context, our views have been conveyed to the ambassador of Brazil in Ankara who was summoned to the Ministry on June 3, 2015," it added.

The Turkish ambassador in Brasilia, Hüseyin Diriöz, has also been recalled to Ankara for consultations."

"Every time the Turkish state feels its strategy of denial threatened over a new declaration recognizing the Armenian Genocide, it presses and detonates diplomatic channels," commented Dr. Alfonso Tabakian, Director of the Armenian National Committee of South America. "The Senate of Brazil took another step and joined the legislative, executive and judicial powers in South America who chose the road of truth and justice for this crime against humanity," he added.

Resolution No. 550/2015, adopted on June 2, was introduced by Senators Aloizio Nunes Fereira Filio and Jose Serra. The resolution “recognizes the Armenian Genocide and offers its solidarity with the Armenian people.”

Furthermore the Senate denounced the “systematic denial, pressure and intimidation against those who try to reconstruct historical events” and urged the Brazilian government to join the recognition.

Representatives of the Armenian community in Sao Paulo described the resolution as "the most important in the history of the Armenian Cause in Brazil."