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Austrian parliamentary declaration on Armenian genocide "to be respected": FM

Xinhua, April 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz Thursday responded to sharp criticism from Turkey over Austria's parliamentary recognition of a genocide against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1910s.

The declaration from all six parties in the Austrian federal parliament said the genocide had occurred and involved up to 1.5 million deaths. Turkey had responded to the declaration by recalling its ambassador to Austria Wednesday, and declaring "outrage" and "permanent damage" to relations with Austria.

In a statement made to the Austria Press Agency, Kurz said the declaration made by the Austrian parliament "is to be respected."

"Now it is time to look to the future and to work toward reconciliation between Turks and Armenians," the minister added.

His ministry stated he had been in telephone contact with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu Thursday, where he conveyed that all federal political parties had supported the statement, and that the declaration included a critical view of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, allied with the Ottoman Empire during World War I, and thus also reflects on Austrian history.

The ministry stated the Turkish response was a reiteration that the declaration would have consequences on bilateral relations between the two countries, though what these would entail were not specified. Endit