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Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 24 2015
German gov't refuses to label 1915 events as genocide
Celal Ã-zcan - BERLIN
The government of Germany has declared that it is against labeling the
1915 events as "genocide" and is not planning any commemoration for
the anniversary.
According to Armenia, up to 1.5 million Ottoman Armenians were killed
starting from 1915. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted
genocide, saying the toll during the mass deportation of Ottoman
Armenians has been inflated and that those killed in 1915 and 1916
were victims of general unrest during the World War I.
Upon a parliamentary question from Die Linke, which is the main
opposition party in Germany, the German Foreign Ministry clarified its
position regarding the 1915 events with a written statement. According
to the four-point response, the question whether the events
constituted genocide should be answered by historians and the issue
should be solved between Turkey and Armenia.
The statement also stressed that the United Nations' 1948 convention,
which defines genocide, does not apply retroactively.
"We are informed about the initiatives planned by Armenian communities
for the 100th anniversary of the 1915/1916 events. The German
government currently has no action plan for commemorations at the
moment," the statement added.
Ulla Jelpke, a member of the Bundestag from Die Linke, said the German
government's stance was "unacceptable." After claiming that the German
and Ottoman Turkish governments of the time were "accomplices," Jelpke
said the current government in Berlin was "evading responsibility."
Armenian groups all over the world are prepared to increase
international pressure over world governments to officially recognize
the 1915 events as genocide by late April.
On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman government signed the Deportation Law,
which stipulated the forced migration of Ottoman Armenians.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan recently rebuffed an invitation by
Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an to attend ceremonies marking
the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli in Çanakkale on April 24,
2015.
In a landmark statement on the Armenian issue delivered on April 23,
2014, ErdoÄ?an highlighted the `shared pain' endured during the 1915
events, expressing condolences on behalf of the Turkish state to the
grandchildren of Armenians who lost their lives `in the context of the
early 20th century.'
Then-Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu, on the other hand, labeled the
deportation as "wrong" and "inhumane" in December 2013.
Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rafael Harpaz announced early this
month that the Tel Aviv government would not recognize the events as
genocide.
January/24/2015
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-govt-rejects-to-label-1915-events-as-genocide.aspx?pageID=238&nID=77384&NewsCatID=359
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Jan 24 2015
German gov't refuses to label 1915 events as genocide
Celal Ã-zcan - BERLIN
The government of Germany has declared that it is against labeling the
1915 events as "genocide" and is not planning any commemoration for
the anniversary.
According to Armenia, up to 1.5 million Ottoman Armenians were killed
starting from 1915. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted
genocide, saying the toll during the mass deportation of Ottoman
Armenians has been inflated and that those killed in 1915 and 1916
were victims of general unrest during the World War I.
Upon a parliamentary question from Die Linke, which is the main
opposition party in Germany, the German Foreign Ministry clarified its
position regarding the 1915 events with a written statement. According
to the four-point response, the question whether the events
constituted genocide should be answered by historians and the issue
should be solved between Turkey and Armenia.
The statement also stressed that the United Nations' 1948 convention,
which defines genocide, does not apply retroactively.
"We are informed about the initiatives planned by Armenian communities
for the 100th anniversary of the 1915/1916 events. The German
government currently has no action plan for commemorations at the
moment," the statement added.
Ulla Jelpke, a member of the Bundestag from Die Linke, said the German
government's stance was "unacceptable." After claiming that the German
and Ottoman Turkish governments of the time were "accomplices," Jelpke
said the current government in Berlin was "evading responsibility."
Armenian groups all over the world are prepared to increase
international pressure over world governments to officially recognize
the 1915 events as genocide by late April.
On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman government signed the Deportation Law,
which stipulated the forced migration of Ottoman Armenians.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan recently rebuffed an invitation by
Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an to attend ceremonies marking
the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli in Çanakkale on April 24,
2015.
In a landmark statement on the Armenian issue delivered on April 23,
2014, ErdoÄ?an highlighted the `shared pain' endured during the 1915
events, expressing condolences on behalf of the Turkish state to the
grandchildren of Armenians who lost their lives `in the context of the
early 20th century.'
Then-Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu, on the other hand, labeled the
deportation as "wrong" and "inhumane" in December 2013.
Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan Rafael Harpaz announced early this
month that the Tel Aviv government would not recognize the events as
genocide.
January/24/2015
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/german-govt-rejects-to-label-1915-events-as-genocide.aspx?pageID=238&nID=77384&NewsCatID=359
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress