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    Adrine Hakobian
  • 7 years ago
    • Categories: 2018

Turkish Press: Dutch parliament motion ‘null and void’ for Turkey

Anadolu Agency (AA)
 Friday


Dutch parliament motion 'null and void' for Turkey

Dutch charge d'affairs has been summoned to Turkish Foreign Ministry
in capital Ankara


ANKARA

Turkey's European Union Affairs Minister Omer Celik on Friday slammed
Dutch parliament's motion recognizing Armenian allegations over the
events of 1915 under the Ottoman Empire as "genocide".

"What we expected from Dutch officials...is that they be more careful
about these issues. This motion is null and void for us," Celik told
reporters in capital Ankara.

On Thursday, the Dutch parliament passed the motion backing the
Armenian viewpoint over the 1915 events with 142 votes in favor;
Turkish-founded Denk Party opposed it with its three votes.

Joel Voordewind, member of parliament from the coalition party
Christian Union (CU), had put forward the motion.

Dutch charge d'affaires was also summoned to the Turkish Foreign
Ministry Friday.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Dutch
parliament's move Thursday night.

"We strongly condemn the decision of the Netherlands' House of
Representatives today to recognize the 1915 events as 'genocide'," the
Turkish ministry said in its statement.

Describing the Dutch parliament's decision as "baseless", the ministry
said the decision had no place in either history or justice.
"Therefore, it has no legal binding or validity," it added.

It further said "Turkey's position regarding 1915 events is based on
historical facts and principle of law."

Turkey's position on the events of 1915 is that deaths of Armenians in
eastern Anatolia in 1915 occurred after some sided with invading
Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation
of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.

Ankara does not accept the alleged "genocide", but acknowledges there
were casualties on both sides during the World War I.

Turkey objects to the presentation of the incidents as "genocide" but
describes the 1915 events as a tragedy for both sides.

Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of
historians from Turkey and Armenia plus international experts to
tackle the issue.

Reporting by Baris Gundogan:Writing by Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
Adrine Hakobian: