Turkey has outlined its possible moves if Germany does not correct its "mistake" following the Bundestag's non-binding resolution recognizing Armenian "genocide" claims, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said.
In remarks made to reporters late Wednesday at Ankara Esenboğa Airport prior to his visit to the U.S., where he will be attending Muhammad Ali's funeral, Erdoğan said a high-level security meeting had discussed the issue Wednesday.
"We specified a number of possible steps that could be taken during our meeting. We will take those steps if Germany does not correct its mistake," he said.
He also called on Germany to desist from what he termed the "wrong steps."
"If it [Germany] does not desist from these incorrect proceedings, our steps will be different. In other words, the process will not be as it is now," he added.
He also noted that nearly 3.5 million Turkish people live in Germany.
The president has slammed the German resolution several times.
Earlier, he had warned: "The decision taken in the German parliament will seriously affect our relationship."
On June 2, the lower house of the German parliament approved a non-binding resolution recognizing Armenian claims of "genocide" during the 1915 events.
The resolution accused the Ottoman government of 1915 of allegedly carrying out "systematic genocide" against Armenians, as well as other Christian minorities.
Turkey denies the alleged Armenian "genocide," but acknowledges that there were casualties on both sides during the events which took place in World War I.
According to Turkey's viewpoint, the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia in 1915 occurred after some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.
Turkey describes the 1915 events as a tragedy for both sides.
Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia along with international experts to tackle the issue.
