Erdogan warns Germany genocide vote could harm ties

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns Germany against the adoption of a parliamentary resolution recognizing the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman forces as “genocide,” saying it would harm the countries’ relationship.

“If (Germany) falls into such a game, that would harm our future ties — the diplomatic, economic, political, commercial and military ties between the two countries,” Erdogan tells reporters in the western province of Izmir ahead of an African tour.

“I believe all of these would be reconsidered.”

The German lower house of parliament is set to vote on Thursday on the resolution over the slaughter, with the text carrying the contentious word “genocide” to the dismay of Ankara.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million were killed between 1915 and 1917 in a targeted campaign of genocide by top Ottoman officials to wipe out their people from Anatolia.

Modern Turkey insists comparable numbers of Armenians and Turks died in a collective tragedy when Armenians sided with invading Russian troops in World War I.

— AFP