Swiss envoy summoned to Turkish FM

Swiss Ambassador Raimund Kunz was summoned by the Turkish foreign ministry in Ankara after a Swiss prosecutor launched a probe into Turkey's EU minister for saying "the Armenian genocide doesn't exist."

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu summoned Kunz to his office, asking for an explanation. Sinirlioglu reportedly told Kunz that the incident was "unacceptable."

"There is no Armenian genocide. Let them arrest me," Bagis had said last week following a question from a French reporter on the 1915 killings.

Zurich public prosecutor Christine Braunschweig confirmed the probe and told Dogan news agency that they were looking into whether or not Bagis had said the words.

"We will look into Minister Egemen Bagis' immunity," Braunschweig further said. "If there is anything illegal and if he does not have the diplomatic immunity, then we will file the lawsuit."

Bagis has refused to speak on the matter until the initial probe ends.


/Hurriyet Daily News/