Turkey Recalled Its Ambassador in Brazil Over the Armenian Genocide Issue
Turkey has recalled its Ambassador to Brazil following the Brazilian Senate’s decision to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Motion 550 was discussed and unanimously adopted by the Brazilian Senate on June 2nd, 2015.
Following Turkey’s decision to recall its Ambassador, the Brazilian government published an official statement reading that “the Government of Brazil regrets for the decision of the Turkish government to call back their Ambassador in Brazil for consultations.”
“We also regrets to hear the statement released by the Turkish Government regarding the adoption of Motion 550 by the Senate aimed at solidarity with the Armenian people to share its pain of the campaign to exterminate its population in the beginning of the last century,” writes the Brazilian government’s official statement.
The official statement writes that on June 1 the Turkish Ambassador visited the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Brazil to meet the Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sergio Danese, where was received explanations about the procedures then in progress in the Senate, about the meaning of the motion and Brazil’s traditional position to the subject matter, which remains unchanged. Similar explanations were provided to the Embassy of Armenia as well.
“The Senate acted within its constitutional powers and in line with the principles of freedom established by the Brazilian Constitution. The Brazilian government expects that mutual relations with Turkey, which are considered strategic for both countries, may soon return to their normal pace,” writes the official statement of the Brazilian government.
Flávio de Leão Bastos Pereira, Professor of Constitutional Law at Mackenzie Presbyterian University (São Paulo-Brazil) says that there are several steps to finish the process of final recognition. “As the Brazilian Senate represents the States of the Federation, it is expected that the Deputy’s Chamber, that represents the Brazilian “people”, in the future, also adopts a similar motion, followed by the President’s ratification by a decree. Or, the president can issue a decree (by convening State heads and the government), followed by a ratification by the Chamber of Deputies through introducing a motion or bill.
Brazil is the 24th country that officially recognized the Armenian genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Empire, which took the lives of 1,5 million Armenians in 1915-1923.
By Kamo Mailyan
