Turkey Declares Bundestag’s Armenian Genocide Bill \”Null and Void\”, Recalls Ambassador

ANKARA — The Turkish government has described the Bundestag’s approval of the Armenian genocide bill “null and void.” Hurriyet Daily News reports.

“The fact that the German Parliament approved distorted and baseless claims as genocide is a historic mistake. The German Parliament’s approval of this bill is not a decision in line with friendly relations between Turkey and Germany. This decision is null and void for Turkey,” Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said.

“This is an issue that scientists and historians need to reach a conclusion on, not politicians or parliaments. As Turkey, we will surely give the necessary response to this decision in all platforms,” he added.

Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Hüseyin Avni Karslioglu has been recalled to Ankara for consultations over the decision.

The Turkish president said the decision would affect relations between Germany and Turkey, adding that Ankara’s first step would be to recall its ambassador for consultations. Erdogan said Turkey would discuss the issue and make a final decision after these consultations.

“This decision that the German Parliament has taken is actually a decision that will seriously affect Germany-Turkey relations. We will make evaluations after returning [to Turkey] about steps to be taken. Then we will take the necessary steps that we have to take,” Erdogan told reporters in Kenya.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ankara could “not accept” such a decision. He blamed the “racist Armenian lobby” for the resolution.

“This decision approved in Germany is a mistaken one. There is no shameful incident in our past. This is not a decision that Turkey could ever approve,” Yildirim said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu took to Twitter to criticize the vote.

“The way to close dark pages in [Germany’s] own history is not to defame the history of other countries with irresponsible and baseless parliament decisions,” Çavusoglu tweeted.