Turkey strongly condemns Dutch Parliament’s motion on 1915 events

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey on Feb. 22 strongly condemned the Dutch Parliament’s motion recognizing the 1915 massacres of Ottoman Armenians as “genocide.”  

“We strongly condemn the decision of the Netherlands’ House of Representatives today to recognize the 1915 events as ‘genocide,’” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Describing the parliament’s decision as “baseless,” the ministry said the decision has “no place in either history or justice. Therefore, it has no legal binding or validity.”

“Turkey’s position regarding 1915 events is based on historical facts and principle of law,” it added.  

Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik on Feb. 23 also slammed the Dutch Parliament's motion.  

"What we expected from Dutch officials is for them to be more careful about these issues. This motion is null and void for us," Çelik told reporters in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Meanwhile, the Dutch charge d'affaires was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Feb. 23 0ver the issue. 

Turkey argues that the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia in 1915 occurred after some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces, leading to “casualties on both sides” during World War I.