German Bundestag recognizes the Armenian Genocide

Public Radio of Armenia –  Siranush Ghazanchyan. 02/06/2016

The German Bundestag today adopted a resolution on the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities with a overwealming majority of the votes. The voting was preceded by an hour-long debate.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats and junior coalition partner Social Democrats, along with the opposition Greens, prepared the resolution entitled “Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916”, which also carries the word throughout the text.

With the motion, the German Bundestag bows to the victims of forced displacement and massacre of the Armenians and other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire, which began over a century ago. It deplores the deeds of the former Young Turk government, the almost complete emanation of the Armenians and other Christian groups (especially Aramaic / Assyrian and Chaldean Christians) in the Ottoman Empire

According to the resolution, the planned expulsion and extermination of more than a million Armenians by the Young Turk regime that starting from April 24, 1915, is an example of mass killing, ethnic cleansing and, yes, genocide.”

The Bundestag also deplores the inglorious role of the German Empire, as military ally of the Ottoman Empire, and notes that despite the clear information also on the part of German diplomats and missionaries on organized expulsion and annihilation of Armenians, Germany did not try to stop this crime against humanity.
The commemoration of the German Bundestag is also an expression of special respect for the most ancient Christian Nation on earth.

The Bundestag is committed to special historical responsibility of Germany to supporting the Turks and Armenians to seek ways of reconciliation. According to the bill, “an honest appraisal of history is the most important basis for reconciliation.’
The German Bundestag calls on the Federal Government, in the spirit of the debate of the German Bundestag of 24 April 2015 100th anniversary, to continue the broad public discussion of the expulsion and almost complete annihilation of the Armenians in 1915-1916, to encourage the Turkish side to confront the past to create the necessary foundation for a reconciliation with the Armenian people.