Turkey Recalls Vienna Ambassador Amid Armenian Genocide Recognition

ANKARA (Sputnik) — Ankara withdrew its ambassador to Austria Wednesday after the Austrian Parliament earlier in the day issued a statement recognizing and condemning the 1915 genocide of Armenians and other ethnic minorities in the Ottoman Empire.

"The statement by the Austrian Parliament was met in Turkey with indignation, because it contradicts historical facts and groundlessly accuses Turkish people of the crimes. In that regard, having transferred our opinion on this issue to the Austrian ambassador in Ankara, it was decided to withdraw our Turkish ambassador in Vienna Mehmet Hasan Gogus for consultations," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It comes despite Australian lawmakers pointing out at a press conference Wednesday that condemnation of hundred-year-old crimes should not be viewed as an insult or humiliation of people of Turkish origin currently residing in Austria. They added that currently Turkey is one of the main partners of the European Union.

Mass killings ordered by members of the Ottoman government took place during and after World War I culminating in 1915. Turkey refuses to name the massacre a genocide, stating that Turkish nationals were also among victims.

On April 24, Yerevan will hold commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire.