AUSTRIA STICKS TO DECISION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DESPITE TURKISH CRITICISM

17:59, 23 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz on Thursday rejected harsh
criticism from Turkey over a declaration by his country’s parliament
that labelled the 1915 deportation and massacres of Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire as “genocide,” dpa reports.

The Turkish government on Wednesday night recalled its ambassador
from Austria following the parliamentary decision a day earlier.

“It should be known that Turkey and the Turkish nation will not forget
this slander uttered against their history,” Turkey’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs said, adding that the decision “will leave permanent
stains on the Turkish-Austrian friendship.”

Ankara also took offence that the declaration did not mention the
Muslims who lost their lives during the same period and slammed the
“outrageous behaviour” of legislators in Vienna saying they should
not give history lessons.

“The declaration of the Austrian Parliament is to be respected,”
said Kurz. “Now it is appropriate to look towards the future and work
towards reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.”

The Austrian Parliament stopped short of adopting a formal resolution,
but six parliamentary parties joined in the declaration.

“Because of the historical responsibility – the Austrian-Hungarian
monarchy was allied to the Ottoman Empire – it is our duty to recognize
and condemn the horrible events as genocide,” it said.

“Turkey must bring light into the dark of history in order
to reappraise this issue in a transparent manner,” the Austrian
statement said.

Turkey has also recalled its ambassador to the Vatican after Pope
Francis last week said the Armenians were victims of “the first
genocide of the 20th century.”

From: A. Papazian