Davutoğlu questions Europe over Aborigines, Native Americans

[Hakan]

Davutoğlu questions Europe over Aborigines, Native Americans​

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu reiterated on Friday criticism of a European Parliament vote on Armenian claims of genocide, challenging Europe over the fate of African tribes, Aborigines of Australia and the Native Americans.

Turkey lashed out at the European Parliament after a vote on Wednesday on a resolution that characterized the killings of Armenians in Anatolia during the World War I years, a development that came only days after Pope Francis angered Ankara by using the same term. European Parliament President Martin Schulz phoned Davutoğlu on Thursday, reportedly telling Davutoğlu than he “understands” Turkey’s reaction.

“I told Schulz yesterday: If we open the books on the European history [there will be questions on] what were done in Asia, Africa, what happened to authentic tribes. Where are the Aborigines? Where are the Native Americans? Where are those many African tribes?” Davutoğlu asked during a press conference in Ankara. “We never had ghettos. Ghetto is a European product. First there is ethnic discrimination, then there is genocide,” he said.

Turkey categorically rejects Armenian claims that 1.5 million Armenians were killed as part of a systematic genocide campaign in 1915, saying both that the death toll is inflated and that Muslim Turks were also killed during civil strife. The tension with the European Parliament and the Vatican comes as Armenians prepare to mark the centennial of the alleged genocide on April 24.

Davutoğlu also criticized the European Parliament, claiming it houses several “marginal” groups and makes “unserious” decisions like the one on Wednesday.

'Linked to racism'


The Turkish prime minister also indicated that he saw the vote on “genocide” resolution linked to rising racism and Islamophobia in Europe, going beyond a dispute between Turks and Armenians, and said Europe should avoid steps that would incite hatred towards a certain religious or ethnic group if it wants to maintain its multicultural structure.

“This is a development that will inflame rising anti-Islamic and anti-Turkish sentiments in Europe,” said Davutoğlu. “These are steps in direction of collectively accusing every Turk, every Muslim of being responsible for genocide or, say, [the crimes committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] ISIL,” said Davutoğlu.

The prime minister also said Turkey was ready “to do whatever necessary” for reconciliation with Armenia, provided that Armenia also take steps to resolve its disputes with Azerbaijan.

Turkey and Armenia signed protocols on restoring ties in 2009 but the process came to a halt after Ankara demanded progress in Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh. (Cihan/Today’s Zaman)

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