May 3, 2005: Turkey's ambassador in Berlin, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, accused the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, of making itself a "spokesman for fanatical Armenian nationalism" and "poisoning relations between Turkey and Germany." With his comments, the ambassador responded to the CDU's request for the Bundestag to debate on the 90th anniversary of the massacre against the Armenians. The debate was held on April 24, the 90th anniversary of the massacre that began in 1915 and resulted in more than 1.5 million Armenians being murdered.

In its request for the debate, the CDU petitioned the German government to support having "Turkey deal without reservation with its past and present roll toward the Armenian people." Unlike the Polish and French parliaments, however, the Bundestag was very careful not to use the term "genocide" in describing the events of 1915. (Both the Polish and French parliaments have described the massacre of Armenians as genocide.)

In choosing its words carefully, the CDU recognized the fact that Turkey continues to deny that genocide against the Armenian people even happened. Nevertheless, ambassador Irtemcelik accused the CDU of endangering the integration of Turks in Germany society via its petition. Turkey's foreign minister Abdullah Gül supported his ambassador in Berlin by declaring that the Bundestag debate "cast a shadow on relations with Germany." He had earlier termed the CDU petition "slander of Turkish history."

Turkey fears that its position on the Armenian massacre may jeopardize the start of negotations on its bid for EU membership, scheduled to begin on October 3rd. The CDU parliamentarians emphasized, however, that the debate was part of a "necessary culture of European remembrance." Luxembourg, which currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, exhorted Turkey "to reexamine its own past regarding the genocide against the Armenian people." The European Parliament in Strasbourg has also passed a resolution demanding that Turkey admit its responsibility for the massacre.

German chancellor Gerhard Schröder arrived in Turkey today to discuss Turkey's progress on humans rights, seen as a key issue in the negotiations for membership. Schröder voiced support for Turkish prime minister Erdogan's call for an independent Turkish-Armenian historical commission to investigate the massacre. Schröder's visit comes at an important time for Erdogan, who is facing increased opposition at home to his country's bid to join the European Union. Opinion polls in Turkey show that public sentiment has largely turned against the EU since negotiations were approved last December. The latest poll in Germany was taken the last week of April – the same week as the Bundestag debate on the Armenian massacre. The result? 75 percent of the German people are currently against admitting Turkey to the European Union.