On Thursday, Germany joined the ranks of European countries recognizing the 1915-1916 mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Before the vote, proposed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition of Conservatives and Socialists together with the Green Party, Ankara said its relations with Germany would deteriorate in case the resolution was passed.
"Parliament of Lithuania has adopted a similar resolution back in 2005. On a number of occasions this issue was raised during bilateral meetings with Turkish officials on different levels. Currently we enjoy very intensive, constructive and fruitful cooperation between our countries," the spokesperson said.
The Armenian genocide was a series of mass killings ordered by the Ottoman government during and after World War I. Turkey refuses to recognize the massacre as genocide, claiming that Turkish nationals were also victimized. A number of states all around the world, including Russia and major Western powers, have recognized and condemned the crime of genocide against the Armenians.
Following Germany's recognition of the genocide, Turkey reacted by recalling its ambassador to Germany for consultations.
