Lavrov Slams Turkish Reaction to Germany’s Armenian Genocide Recognition

MOSCOW — The German Bundestag’s decision to recognize genocide of the Armenian people comes from Turkey’s resistance to become a true counterpart of the EU in certain issues, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Vesti on Saturday weekly television program.

“Turkey periodically provokes scandals and insults its partners, including in Europe,” Lavrov told Russian state television. “I believe that its reaction to the German parliament’s decision is absolutely inadequate.”

“I believe, this can be explained by Turkey’s lack of desire to be a true counterpart in a series of issues, by its regular attempts of scandals, of insulting its counterparts, including those in Europe,” the foreign minister said. “My opinion is their reaction to the Bundestag’s decision is absolutely inadequate.”

Russia has recognized the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks as genocide with a similar resolution adopted by its parliament in 1995. Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed that recognition in April 2015. Two days later Putin flew to Yerevan to attend and speak at official Armenian commemorations of the genocide centennial.