Armenia expects more countries to recognize the 1915 massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire a century ago as genocide after remarks by Pope Francis and the stance taken by Germany's parliament, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said in an interview to Reuters agency.
"The principled position of the pope and the views expressed by the Bundestag will pave the way for new recognitions by other nations," President Serzh Sargsyan said, Reuters reports.
"Germany is a very important and significant actor on the international stage and this (decision) will serve as a good example for other nations to follow and to learn from it," he said.
Sargsyan criticized Turkey's position over its aspiration to join the European Union, saying Ankara was trying to use a policy of dictatorship to bring pressure to bear on the bloc.
"I don't think that Turkey is ... an actor that can impose its views, or exercise pressure, on the European Union," he said.
"I don't honestly see any prospects that would pave the way for Turkey joining the EU", the Armenian President summarized.
To note, Pope Francis made a three-day visit to Armenia and the motto of his trip was "Visit to the First Christian Country". During his visit to Armenia, the Pope met with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. In his speech, he repeatedly used the term "Armenian Genocide", when describing the events of early XX century. The Pope also visited the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial in Yerevan and paid his tribute to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims.
To note, German Bundestag adopted on June 2 the resolution on Armenian Genocide by a vast majority of votes. Only one parliamentarian voted against and another abstained from voting. The resolution recognizes not only the fact of Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 20th century but also Germany's responsibility for these events. Turkey, in its turn, has warned Berlin on the level of first ranking officials against the possible negative consequences for the Turkish-German relations in case the resolution was adopted. Ankara recalled its Ambassador to Germany Avni Karslioglu following the adoption of the resolution.