Turkey calls Germany’s approval of ‘Armenian genocide bill’ null and void
ANKARA
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The Turkish government has described the Bundestag’s approval of the Armenian genocide bill “null and void.”“The fact that the German Parliament approved distorted and baseless claims as genocide is a historic mistake. The German Parliament’s approval of this bill is not a decision in line with friendly relations between Turkey and Germany. This decision is null and void for Turkey," Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said.
"This is an issue that scientists and historians need to reach a conclusion on, not politicians or parliaments. As Turkey, we will surely give the necessary response to this decision in all platforms,” he added.
The Turkish president said the decision would affect relations between Germany and Turkey, adding that Ankara's first step would be to recall its ambassador for consultations.
Erdoğan said Turkey would discuss the issue and make a final decision after these consultations.
“This decision that the German Parliament has taken is actually a decision that will seriously affect Germany-Turkey relations. We will make evaluations after returning [to Turkey] about steps to be taken. Then we will take the necessary steps that we have to take,” Erdoğan told reporters in Kenya.
“This decision approved in Germany is a mistaken one. There is no shameful incident in our past. This is not a decision that Turkey could ever approve,” Yıldırım said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu took to Twitter to criticize the vote.
“The way to close dark pages in [Germany's] own history is not to defame the history of other countries with irresponsible and baseless parliament decisions,” Çavuşoğlu tweeted.
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has also dismissed the decision as "null and void."
“We are deeply saddened by the German Federal Parliament’s approval of the bill that defines the 1915 incidents as genocide. We strongly condemn this. The decision is null and void for us,” CHP Deputy Chair Öztürk Yılmaz said.
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has also condemned the approval of the bill.
“Although the German government does not want to accept it, the Turkish nation has a taintless, glorious and noble history. The Nationalist Movement Party condemns the distorted decision of the German Federal Parliament and awaits for the urgent correction of this serious mistake,” MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli said.