BAKU

An Azerbaijani official has slammed Thursday the adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution recognizing the 1915 events affecting Armenians as a “genocide”.

“The European Parliament’s decisions prove that double standards and islamophobia have overcome Europe,” said Ali Hasanov, national adviser to the president of Azerbaijan and head of the Department on Social and Political Issues.

Hasanov’s comments came a day after the European Parliament voted on the centenary of the 1915 events to reconfirm a 1987 resolution, in which it first recognized them as "genocide."

The European Parliament’s resolution “distorts the facts of World War I, does not reflect the truth, is unjust and is a political decision to serve special aims,” said Hasanov.

He added that the decision was one of the most shameful ones made in Europe’s history. 

He added that institutions such as the European Parliament and the European Council were not impartial when making decisions concerning 1915 events.

“Historical facts show that genocide was not committed against the Armenians living in Turkey in 1915, “ said Hasanov, explaining that while Turkey was involved in World War I, armed groups of Armenians were attacking the Turkish army and committing massacres and inhuman acts against civilians.

“The Turkish army had to take action to protect the civilians from Armenian atrocities,” Hasanov stated.

He also emphasized that Turkey and Azerbaijan were not against the West, indicating a willingness to cooperate in various areas.

“Unfortunately, anti-Muslim and anti-Turkish movements are becoming more popular in the United States and in European countries and they insist on being against the Islamic world,” said Hasanov, adding that the Muslim community should not allow this to become reality.

The 1915 events took place during World War I when a portion of the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with the invading Russians and revolted against the empire.

The Ottoman Empire relocated Armenians in eastern Anatolia following the revolts and there were Armenian casualties during the process.

Pope Francis said Sunday that "the first genocide of the 20th century" had struck Armenians, which led Turkey to recall its ambassador to the Vatican and also to summon the Vatican's envoy in Ankara.