Turkey's PM calls Sweden vote "inconsiderate"

Commenting on the approval of the resolution on Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents in the Swedish parliament, Erdogan said, "an incident which had occurred 95 years ago and whose reasons, results and victims have not yet emerged into daylight, has been brought in front of Turkey just like a threat in many countries. I consider this as an inconsiderate and inequitable decision."

Erdogan said the decision cast shadow over extremely positive relations between Turkey and Sweden.

"Parliaments convene, vote and rule on incidents that occurred 95 years ago. This approach lacks logic and commonsense. I am underlining that such decisions will have a negative impact on our efforts aiming to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia. Turkey is a very big country that will not bow and allow any fait accompli, ill-willed initiatives and irresponsible stances," Erdogan said.

Erdogan noted that, "we will not give credit to those who fail to leave history to historians and those who refrain from archival documents and try to offend Turkey with tricks."

Turkish prime minister said he cancelled a visit to Sweden planned to take place on March 17, "I would like to reaffirm that Turkey will not make any concession to its determination against such kind of ill-willed stances against Turkey."

Swedish Parliament on Thursday approved a resolution on Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents with 131 votes against 130.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs last Thursday approved the resolution on Armenian allegations.

Turkey strongly rejects the genocide allegations and regards the events as civil strife in wartime which claimed lives of many Turks and Armenians.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols on October 10, 2009 to normalize relations between the two countries. The protocols envisage the two countries to establish diplomatic ties and open the border that has been close since 1993.

Turkey and Armenia also agreed to take steps to operate a sub-commission on impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archive to define existing problems and formulate recommendations, in which Armenian, Turkish as well as Swiss and other international experts would take part.

However, on January 12, 2010, the Constitutional Court of Armenia declared a decision of constitutional conformity on the protocols. Turkey thought the fifth article of Armenian Constitutional Court's verdict regarding the protocols was against the target and basis of the protocols.


/World Bulletin/