German Vote on Armenian Genocide Riles Tempers, and Turkey

[xht]

If modern Germany has a mantra, it is that people should learn from their history. Yet Berlin’s latest attempt at reconciliation with the past focuses on the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago.

And that gesture toward atonement has riled tempers on all sides of the already strained European relations with Turkey.

The argument is set to peak on Thursday in a debate in the German Parliament, which is expected to overwhelmingly approve a resolution that officially declares the century-old Armenian massacres to be genocide — and condemns what was then known as the German Empire, allied with the Ottoman Empire, for failing to act on information it had at the time about the killings.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said late Tuesday that he had warned Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany in a telephone call that there could be consequences if the resolution passes.

For Turkey, there is scarcely a more sensitive topic than what German and international historians say was the murder of more than a million Armenians and other Christian minorities from 1915 to 1916. The Turkish government has long rejected the term genocide, saying that thousands of people, many of them Turks, died in the civil war that destroyed the Ottoman Empire.


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/02/world/europe/armenian-genocide-germany-turkey.html

[bryant.coleman]

Finally, a step in the right direction from Merkel. If the massacre of 1.5 million people (at that time 60% of the Armenian population) doesn't qualify as a genocide, the we need to redefine the meaning of that term. They should also recognize the other genocides perpetrated by the Turks, such as the Assyrian genocide and the Greek genocide. And also the Kurdish genocide, which is currently ongoing with the silent American backing.

[Daniel91]

Finally, a step in the right direction from Merkel. If the massacre of 1.5 million people (at that time 60% of the Armenian population) doesn't qualify as a genocide, the we need to redefine the meaning of that term. They should also recognize the other genocides perpetrated by the Turks, such as the Assyrian genocide and the Greek genocide. And also the Kurdish genocide, which is currently ongoing with the silent American backing.

I can partly agree with you that is important to talk about such sensitive and sad events from the past but parliament is not the right place to decide if something was genocide or not.
Only international court in Hague can make such verdict.
I'm surprise that parliament of one country proclaim something like this without verdict from the court.
It's obvious political game because of crisis with immigrants from Turkey.
If they was serious to find out truth, they could do two things.
Start legal process in International court and initiate international history committee with goal to find real historical facts about this tragedy and divide truth from myths.

[Hamukione]

Fuck what Turkey thinks about us. Close all access from Turkey to the European Union.
Their leader even urgde them to fuck like rats to expand their reach.

[J. J. Phillips]

Good for Germany. I hope it makes Erdogan very sad.

I also hope I live long enough to see Merkel's actions declared a Genocide.

[bryant.coleman]

Fuck what Turkey thinks about us. Close all access from Turkey to the European Union.
Their leader even urgde them to fuck like rats to expand their reach.

Turkey does not belong to Europe, and the Turkish culture and customs are entirely different from the European equivalents. In my opinion, the Turks are more similar to Africans, than they are to the Europeans. They should seriously consider joining the African Union. The Sub Saharan African nations will also welcome Turkey, unlike the case with the European nations.

[xht]

Fuck what Turkey thinks about us. Close all access from Turkey to the European Union.
Their leader even urgde them to fuck like rats to expand their reach.

Turkey does not belong to Europe, and the Turkish culture and customs are entirely different from the European equivalents. In my opinion, the Turks are more similar to Africans, than they are to the Europeans. They should seriously consider joining the African Union. The Sub Saharan African nations will also welcome Turkey, unlike the case with the European nations.

Because of their culture and the majority of them are Muslim, you think they do not want to be part of the european union.

[DodoB]

Good for Germany,the millions who were murdered don't deserve to be forgotten.

[bryant.coleman]

Fuck what Turkey thinks about us. Close all access from Turkey to the European Union.
Their leader even urgde them to fuck like rats to expand their reach.

Turkey does not belong to Europe, and the Turkish culture and customs are entirely different from the European equivalents. In my opinion, the Turks are more similar to Africans, than they are to the Europeans. They should seriously consider joining the African Union. The Sub Saharan African nations will also welcome Turkey, unlike the case with the European nations.

Because of their culture and the majority of them are Muslim, you think they do not want to be part of the european union.

Culture and religion are important. I agree.

I would be having no issues, if the above said parameters were compatible with the European ones. Unfortunately, in the case of Turkey they are not compatible with the European values. Turkey is a country where there is absolutely no freedom of speech. The treatment of minorities reminds me of the Catholic genocide of the Americas during the 16th century.

I wouldn't mind the EU accepting Muslim countries such as Kazakhstan. The culture and values are similar to those in the EU. But Turkey? A definite NO from my part.