Yerevan urges German MPs to stand firm on ‘Armenian genocide’ vote

BERLIN - Agence France-Presse

Armenia’s president urged German lawmakers June 1 to not be “intimidated” by Turkey ahead of their vote on branding the mass killings of Armenians in the hands of the Ottomans in 1915 a  “genocide,” as leaders in Ankara warned it could harm ties.

“It would not be fair to not call the genocide of Armenians genocide just because that makes the head of state of another country angry,” Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan told Bild daily on the eve of the Bundestag vote.
“I am sure that Bundestag politicians see it this way too and will not be intimidated,” he added.

Ankara stepped up pressure against the vote, with Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım calling it “ridiculous,” and warning of consequences for ties with Germany if the resolution were passed.

Put forward by Germany’s ruling left-right coalition and the opposition Greens, the resolution entitled “Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916” also carries the contested word throughout the text.