On June 2, German legislators are set to vote on a resolution recognizing the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in World War I as genocide.
"We believe that the vote is absurd and wanton. These events took place during World War I… We know that those who try to accuse Turkey do not have good intentions. We frankly and openly say to the whole world that we have nothing to hide on the matter… Turning a history topic into a matter of politics, including internal politics, is inherently wrong," Yildirim told journalists.
He warned that a positive vote on the resolution would inevitably mar German-Turkish relations.
"What happens if the bill is passed? Not a single thing. Other countries have made similar decisions. For us such decisions are legally invalid. However, we do not support decisions which make no sense," Yildirim added.
In 1915, some 1.2 million Armenians were slaughtered by the Ottoman authorities or starved to death. Ottoman policy of ethnic violence was recognized by many European countries and by the European Parliament as Armenian genocide. Turkey has repeatedly refuted accusations of massacre citing unintentional war casualties.
