Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
March 25, 2010 Thursday

Turkish ambassador to return to Sweden

Istanbul, Mar 25, SPA — Turkey’s ambassador to Sweden, recalled after
that country’s parliament recently passed a bill recognizing the mass
killings of Armenians in Ottoman-era Turkey during World War I as
"genocide," is set to return, Turkish media reported Thursday, according to dpa.

Ambassador Zergun Koruturk would return to Sweden shortly, reports
quoted Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu telling private broadcaster
CNNTurk in an interview late Wednesday.

"The Swedish government clearly opposed the adoption of a bill on
the incidents of 1915 at the Swedish Parliament. The Swedish
government clearly demonstrated its stand on the bill regarding the
incidents of 1915," Davutoglu said.

Ankara also recalled its ambassador to Washington after a House of
Representatives committee recently passed another "genocide" bill.
Turkish officials have said the ambassador will not return until it
is clear that the resolution will not go any further.

Armenians accuse the Ottoman Turks of being behind the systematic
killings of up to 1.5 million during WWI.

Turkey has rejected the genocide claim, saying the number of
Armenians killed was much lower and that the deaths were the result
of violent turbulence that also affected other groups at the time.