Turkey rejects Dutch resolution on Armenian events

By Beyza Binnur Donmez and Sena Guler

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey Wednesday slammed a Dutch parliament resolution on the 1915 Armenian events against Turkey.

"We strongly reject the resolutions adopted yesterday [on Tuesday] in the House of Representatives in the Netherlands upon the initiatives of the circles against Turkey, as well as the baseless and slanderous allegations referred to in these resolutions," said a Foreign Ministry statement.

"It should be known that these groundless efforts, which are devoid of sense of consideration and seriousness, will not go unanswered for those who resort to them," the ministry said, adding that the understanding of "saving the day" to receive more votes would eventually bring harm to followers of this kind of "irrational approaches".

It also called on the Dutch parliament to address more important issues which pose a threat for European values -- such as rising extreme right, xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia and increasing attacks on mosques -- instead of showing an "anti-Turkey stance".

"It is clear that at a time when efforts are underway to normalize our relations with the Netherlands and progress is being made as a result of mutual steps, these kind of unfounded and ill-minded attempts of the Dutch Parliament, the purpose of which is incomprehensible, will not contribute to our relations," it noted.

Turkey's position is that the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia in 1915 took place when 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 that there were casualties on both sides during the events of 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.