EU Calls for Reconciliation in Turkish-Armenian Relations Amid Genocide Row

The European Union calls for normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, looking for the constructive dialogue between the countries to reach full reconciliation, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini's spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told Sputnik on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, the German parliament passed a near-unanimous resolution recognizing the 1915 massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as genocide.

"The EU encourages further, meaningful steps paving the way towards full reconciliation between Turkish and Armenian civil societies. The EU remains committed to the normalization process of relations between Turkey and Armenia and encourages both sides to continue to engage in this process without preconditions," Kocijancic stated.

While recognizing that there continue to be different views among the EU member states on the issue of 1915 events, the European Union is searching for ways to advance and support reconciliation, she added.

Around 1.2 million Armenians were killed or starved to death by the Ottoman Empire during and after the World War I. Turkey has repeatedly denied accusations of committing mass murder of Armenians, claiming that the victims of the 1915 tragedy were both Turks and Armenians.

Armenia insists on the recognition of the genocide by the international community. The Armenian genocide has already been recognized by Russia and numerous EU countries, as well as by the European Parliament.