Erdogan slams EU, US recognition of Armenian genocide
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blasted the European Union, the US and other countries that have recognized the massacre of Armenians in 1915 as genocide.
Erdogan on Saturday accused the leaders of France, Russia, and Germany of supporting what he referred to as “Armenian lies” saying, "The last countries to speak of genocide are Germany, Russia, and France. What happened during the two world wars that had been initiated by Germany in the past century is before our eyes."
"They should first, one by one, clean the stains on their own histories," he added.
The Turkish head of state further emphasized that the EU -- whose parliament voted to describe the massacre as genocide on April 15 -- was "not telling the truth".
"Hey European Union! Don't offer us any thoughts, keep them to yourself." He said. "They have ears that do not hear, eyes that do not see, and tongues that do not speak the truth."
Erdogan also accused Washington of siding with Armenia although US President Barack Obama avoided the controversial phrase genocide and instead used the Armenian term Medz Yeghern.
This is while Turkey insists that it shares the pain of Armenians over the event but has intensely rejected the use of the term genocide, contending that hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Christians were killed on both sides in a wartime tragedy.
Earlier in April, Pope Francis drew Turkish fury after describing the century-old killings as "the first genocide of the 20th century."
Turkey summoned the Vatican envoy to Ankara over the remarks and recalled its ambassador to the Holy See.
MFB/NT
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