Germany, Turkey in diplomatic face-off over vote

“The resolution adopted by the German parliament will seriously affect relations between Germany and Turkey,” Erdogan said in Nairobi after talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He confirmed Ankara has recalled its ambassador to Germany, Huseyin Avni Karslioglu, for consultations.

Germany’s charge d’affaires in the capital has also been summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry later in the day, a spokesperson for German embassy in Ankara told AFP. 

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus also slammed as “null and void” and a “historic mistake” the German parliament’s resolution. “The German parliament’s recognition of ‘distorted and groundless’ allegations as ‘genocide’ is a historic mistake,” Kurtulmus, who is also government spokesman, said on his official Twitter account.

German lawmakers overwhelmingly adopted the resolution, defying Turkey’s warnings that the vote could severely damage bilateral ties.

Kurtulmus said the decision was not beneficial for friendly relations between Turkey and Germany.

“This is an issue that needs to be finalised not by politicians or parliaments but by scientists and historians,” he said. Kurtulmus also warned that: “Of course, as Turkey, we will give an appropriate response to this decision on every level.