Bundestag’s draft resolution on Armenian Genocide, which will be put to a vote on June 2, mentions about the guilt and responsibility of that period and not current Turkey, the article published in Repubblica reads.

“President Joachim Gauck was the first to speak about the Genocide in Germany. Since then the public discussions on that topic haven’t already been anyhow limited.

The limits are so much absent that on June 2 the Bundesdtag MPs are going to vote on the draft resolution, which entirely speaks about the Armenian Genocide, starting from its title.

The resolution, entitled “Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916” is actively supported by Christian democrats headed by Angela Merkel, social democrats and the greens.

The resolution also touches on the grave responsibility of Kaiser Germany and “shameful role of the German Reich, who, despite receiving information from the German diplomats and missionaries, initiated nothing to stop this crime against humanity.”

Until now the Turkish schools avoid telling about the deportation of Armenians. Historian Yusuf Halaçoğlu from Turkey’s ultranationalist Historical Society not only denies the Armenian Genocide but also justifies the deportations by the fact that Armenians “attacked the Turks from the back,” fighting under the “scepter” of the Russian tsar.  

“Germany’s experience shows how difficult it is for any society to face the darkest pages of its history. The guilt of the perpetrators and responsibilities of those alive today should be differentiated,” the text of the draft resolution reads. Exactly this subtle but very important difference pushed the Christian democrats to introduce the draft resolution in Bundestag, MP from Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Franz Jung, thinks.  

“Today the issue doesn’t concern calling Turkey to prisoners’ dock or accusing the Turkish government for the genocide. The issue only concerns Ankara’s recognition of its responsibility for its history.”  

German-based Turks have already held a demonstration in Berlin. According to the assessment of the police, nearly 1300 people had gathered.”