The foreign ministry said "we reject and condemn... (Putin's)characterisation of 1915 events as genocide despite all our warnings and calls".
- At a ceremony in Armenia, Putin referred to "mass" killings, but also once used the word "genocide" -- which Turkey strongly objects to -- while mentioning that Moscow is party to several international legal initiatives, including a convention against genocide.
"Such political statements which represent a clear violation of law is considered null and void by Turkey," the ministry said.
Ankara also said Russian insistence on the "mistake" would not help peace and prosperity, urging Moscow "to leave its biased attitude and instead encourage Armenia and Armenians to respond positively to Turkey's appeal for friendship and peace."
Turkey says it shares the pain of Armenians over the events but has vehemently rejected the use of the term genocide, contending that hundreds of thousands were killed on both sides as Ottoman forces battled the Russian empire for control of Anatolia.
In a separate statement, the Turkish foreign ministry lashed out against "unfounded accusations" directed by German president Joachim Gauck, who condemned the 1915 killings as genocide and acknowledged that Germany bore partial blame for the bloodletting.
The ministry accused Gauck of disregarding the views of the Turkish community living in Germany whom it said would "not remain silent to attempts aimed at smearing (Turkish) identity."
"Turkish people will not forget or forgive German president Gauck's statements," it added.
Earlier this month, Pope Francis drew Turkey's wrath after describing the killings as "the first genocide of the 20th century".
Turkey summoned the Vatican ambassador in Ankara over the remarks and recalled the Turkish envoy to the Holy See.
On Wednesday, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Austria in protest over Austrian lawmakers' condemnation of mass killings as "genocide."
More than 20 nations, including France and Russia, have recognised the Armenian genocide.
AFP
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
25/4/15
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Turkey condemns Hollande's comments on Armenian issue...
ReplyDeleteTurkey condemned France's "unjust and partial attitude" to the deaths of Armenians in 1915 late on Friday.
"French President Francois Hollande participated, as he had announced long time ago, at the ceremony held in Yerevan on 24 April, 2015, which instead of being a commemoration for the losses incurred in the past, turned out to be an occasion to slander Turkish identity, history and society," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement added that Hollande had "regrettably reiterated his support to the Armenian nationalist narrative."
Russian President Putin also attended the events in the Armenian capital held to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1915 incidents, which heard Hollande urge Turkey to end its refusal to recognise the deaths as "genocide."
"It would have been expected from President Hollande that during these ceremonies he would acknowledge that, regardless of religion or ethnicity, all Ottoman citizens endured tragic sufferings during the process of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire," the statement added....aa.com.tr
25/4/15