YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. During the discussion of constitutional changes in Turkey’s Parliament, lawmaker, member of the People’s Democratic Party, Garo Paylan raised the issue of the Armenian Genocide, Anadolu reports.

A decision was made to remove him from three sessions for his statement.

In his speech Garo Paylan said during 1913-1923 the Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and Jews registered in the country, were “exiled from these lands or subjected to tortures as a result of large massacres and genocide”.

Paylan’s statement angered the ruling “Justice and Development” party members. However, Paylan continued his speech saying: “At one time we comprised 40% of the population, today we are one among 1000. Something happened to us, and I call it genocide whatever you call it. The Armenian people know very well what happened with them. I know very well what happened with my father, grandfather. Let you call it, let’s together face with it”.

The ruling party lawmaker Metin Külünk demanded to “correct the word genocide”. It was decided to stop the session. After that a number of ruling and opposition party members condemned Paylan’s such statement.