BUNDESTAG

We addressed two questions to two people, historian and former editor of Der Speigel Wolfgang Gust and historian Eric Weitz from City University of New York, who have been researching German complicity to the Armenian Genocide for many years.

We talked to Hilmar Kaiser, one of the prominent researchers who work on the Armenian Genocide, about Bundestag's resolution and Germany's responsibility. Kaiser said: “It was not 'the Ottoman Empire' or 'Turkey' or 'the Turks' or 'the Kurds' who killed the Armenians. Let us identify the culprits and praise the rescuers.

Works of German theologian Lepsius, who sent reports to German politicians for warning them during the Armenian Genocide, revealed the fact that German officials had known the massacres but they hadn't done anything for preventing them. Director of Lepsius House Rolf Hosfeld talked about the influence of Lepsius' works on German society's current recognition and Germany's responsibility in the Armenian Genocide.

Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, General Vicar of Armenian Patriarch in Turkey, sent a letter to President Erdoğan about the Armenian Genocide resolution of Bundestag. In the letter, Ateşyan defined the passing of the resolution as “abuse of Armenian nation by imperialist forces”. Claiming that the decision caused a deep regret in Armenian nation, he said “we submit our regret to your dignified office”.

While the debates on the genocide resolution that was passed in Bundestag on June 2 continues, Cem Özdemir, who made great efforts for passing the resolution, receives death threats.

President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Yıldırım and Deputy Prime Minister Kurtulmuş made statements after the Armenian Genocide resolution was passed by Bundestag. Moreover, Turkish ambassador to Germany is recalled to Ankara.

Bundestag passed the Armenian Genocide resolution

The decision of Bundestag is a message for Turkey above all. Would Turkey take it as a message? Highly unlikely, but Germany's attitude is really meaningful and important for Armenians.

Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan addressed to Bundestag about the Armenian Genocide resolution that will be voted tomorrow and asked the members of Bundestag not to connect the voting with the migration deal between Turkey and EU.

The Armenian Genocide resolution that will be discussed in Bundestag on June 2 is titled as “Remembrance and Commemoration of the Genocide against Armenians and other Christian Minorities in 1915-1916 in Ottoman Empire”. In the resolution, the term “genocide” is openly used and the responsibility of the German Reich is pointed out.