Azeri leader calls German "genocide" resolution "injustice"

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has described as "injustice" and "double standards" the German Bundestag vote recognising the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turkey in World War One as an act of "genocide".


"That is injustice, double standards and distortion of history. We cannot and do not endure it. Our diaspora organizations have been instructed to take joint actions with Turkish diaspora organizations. We must demonstrate unity in the region and the world," APA news agency quoted President Aliyev as saying at a meeting with the visiting Turkish prime minister in Baku on 3 June.


Aliyev went on to say that there were political motives in Bundestag's decision. "They probably want to force Turkey to do something, to exert influence on Turkey's independent policy. The Armenian issue is just a pretext and has turned into a tool in the hands of great powers," Aliyev said.


He said Baku had faced similar attitude when the German parliament passed a resolution on human rights situation in Azerbaijan in the run-up to the Baku-host European Games in 2015.


"Democracy is developing in Azerbaijan. Free Internet exists in the country. How can freedom of speech be violated in a place where Internet is available? There is freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan. We can see today how peaceful demonstrators are insulted in Europe," Aliyev said.


He went on to say that Baku and Ankara should demonstrate unity.


"Those who passed these resolutions regarding Azerbaijan and Turkey have made a big historic and political mistake. Provocations which are being carried out against us have demonstrated that only together we can be strong. The Turkey-Azerbaijan unity is a factor and nobody can deny this factor," Aliyev said.

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