Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt called on not to politicize the historical events, commenting on recent developments in the Swedish Parliament, CNN Turk quoted the Swedish media outlets.
The Swedish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations approved a resolution on the so-called "Armenian genocide" by a one-vote margin yesterday evening. A similar decision was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs with 23 votes against 22 last week. According to Bildt, the recognition of the so-called "genocide" will lead to the failure of efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenian relations.
The minister said that Sweden supports establishment of a joint commission that will investigate the fact of the so called "genocide".
After approving the document, Ankara recalled its ambassador from Stockholm for consultations and canceled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Sweden, scheduled for March 17, in response to this document. "We strongly condemn the Swedish Parliament's decision. Our people and Government reject the decision, devoid of foundation and is full of mistakes," said in Turkish Government's official statement.
The statement says that Ankara believes the Swedish Parliament's decision was adopted in favor of a number of internal political interests and "doesn't fit the relations between Turkey and Sweden, and close ties and friendship between the two nations".