Steinmeier hopes Bundestag's voting on Armenian Genocide resolution will cause no tension in German-Turkish relations

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier hopes Bundestag's voting on the Armenian Genocide resolution will cause no tension in the German-Turkish relations, the official website of the German Foreign Office reports. 

He says that it is the independent decision of the German Bundestag and that Turkey's reaction was expectable. Germany will continue its efforts towards reconciliation of Armenia and Turkey. The Foreign Minister of Germany also hopes that the historians of both sides will find an opportunity to reconsider their past.   

Steinmeier notes that Turkey and Germany are linked by many things. The matter does not concern only the political relations between the two Governments. He stresses that there are many Turks in Germany and that Germany is very much interested in close and partner relationship with Turkey. 

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. The ambassadors of Armenia and Turkey were present at the hearings in Bundestag. However Chancellor Angela Merkel, Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel and Foreign Minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier were not present at the hearings.  Deputy Government Spokesperson Christiane Wirtz stated that Merkel supports the resolution. 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.