Dutch parliament motion 'null and void' for Turkey

By Baris Gundogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's European Union minister on Friday blasted Dutch parliament's motion recognizing Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.

"What we expected from the Netherlands -- which has a high degree of responsibility in an act of genocide like Srebrenitsa -- is be more careful about these issues. This motion is null and void for us," Omer Celik told reporters in Ankara.

The Dutch parliament on Thursday passed a motion supporting the Armenian allegations about the events of 1915, terming it as "genocide".

The motion was passed with 142 votes, while only three votes of Turkish-founded Denk Party opposed it.

Joel Voordewind, member of parliament from the coalition party Christian Union (CU), had put forward the motion.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the Dutch parliament's move.

"We strongly condemn the decision of the Netherlands' House of Representatives today to recognize the 1915 events as 'genocide'," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Describing the Dutch parliament's decision as "baseless", the ministry said the decision has no place in either history or justice. "Therefore, it has no legal binding or validity," it added.

It further said, "Turkey's position regarding 1915 events is based on historical facts and principle of law."

Turkey's position on the events of 1915 is that deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia in 1915 occurred after some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.

Ankara does not accept the alleged "genocide" but acknowledges there were casualties on both sides during World War I.

Turkey objects to the presentation of the incidents as “genocide” but describes the 1915 events as a tragedy for both sides.

Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia plus international experts to tackle the issue.