Turkey has condemned Brazil’s Senate for recognizing the 1915 Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire and recalled its ambassador to the Latin American country for consultations in protest.
In a statement released on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry described a corresponding resolution adopted by Brazil’s upper house of parliament last week as “an example of irresponsibility.”
“Political decisions of this nature, taken under the influence of the Armenian lobbies can neither change the historical facts nor the legal norms,” said the statement.
It said Turkish officials conveyed this message to the Brazilian ambassador to Turkey when he was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Ankara on June 3. “Turkish Ambassador in Brasilia, Mr. Huseyin Dirioz has also been recalled to Ankara for consultations,” added the statement.
The Turkish government reacted just as angrily to a spate of similar statements on the subject that were made by Pope Francis, German President Joachim Gauck as well as the parliaments of Austria and Luxembourg shortly before and after the genocide centennial marked on April 24. Turkey’s ambassadors to the Vatican, Austria and Luxembourg, were withdrawn as a result.
Ankara also condemned the presidents of Russia and France for attending April 24 ceremonies in Yerevan and reaffirming their countries’ recognition of the Armenian genocide.