Turkish opposition CHP slams Dutch parliament's motion

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has condemned the recent motion of the Dutch parliament that recognized Armenian allegations over the events of 1915 under the Ottoman Empire as "genocide".

Talking to journalists in the parliament on Monday, Ozturk Yilmaz, CHP deputy chairman and lawmaker from eastern Ardahan province, said: "The decision taken in the Dutch parliament recognizing the 1915 events as genocide is false and we condemn it."

Yilmaz said nobody could use Turkey's history to serve their own domestic policy.

On Thursday, the Dutch parliament passed a motion backing the Armenian viewpoint over the 1915 events with 142 votes in favor; Turkish-founded Denk Party opposed it with its three votes.

Yilmaz called on the Turkish government to take necessary steps before the U.S. Congress takes the same decision.

"This issue can come to the agenda of the U.S. Congress before April 24... If the same decision would be taken in the U.S. Congress, the effect will differ from the Dutch parliament," the lawmaker said.

"The government should take necessary steps linked to this issue," he said.

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 the 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.