– First Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) Thomas Oppermann said, “On June 2, Bundestag will make a decision recognizing the mass killing of Armenians during World War I as genocide.”

First Secretary of SDP Thomas Oppermann said that he wants “the motion concerning the mass killing of Armenians in 1915”, which was put on the agenda long ago, to be accepted despite Turkey’s objections. According to Deutsche Welle, Oppermann spoke to Tagesspiel and said, “On June 2, Bundestag will make a decision recognizing the mass killing and deportation of Armenians during World War I as genocide.” He also stated that Turkey’s possible reactions shouldn’t be an obstacle to this step.

“Unnecessary sensitivity should be avoided”

Mentioning the comedian Böhmermann crisis, Oppermann said, “It was Angela Merkel’s mistake to allow for prosecution, though her coalition partner SPD objected to it.” Noting that the same mistakes shouldn’t be made, Oppermann stated: “This is exactly why we should avoid displaying unnecessary sensitivity to Turkey about the recognition of the genocide.”
According to Der Spiegel, the parliamentary groups of Christian Union Parties CDU/CSU and SDP prevented the draft resolution that recognizes the genocide. In the news report, it is stated that second and third readings of the resolution were dragged out for a long time.

In Germany, President Joachim Gauck and President of the Bundestag Norbert Lammert used the word “genocide” in their genocide’s 100th anniversary speeches, but Bundestag hasn’t used the word “genocide” for now.