YEREVAN, JUNE 2, ARMENPRESS. Member of German Bundestag, member of the Executive Body of the Social Democratic Party of Germany Dietmar Nitan visited Tsitsernakaberd   memorial complex in Yerevan and laid flowers in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. One year ago, on the same day, June 2, the German Bundestag adopted the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, one of the authors of the bill was Dietmar Nitan who had struggled for years.

The parliamentarian is convinced that all the attempts to conceal the fact of the Armenian Genocide are futile, since, according to him, it’s just impossible to hide the crime against humanity.

“As a German Bundestag member, I considered it my duty to do my best for not only reaching the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Germany, but also accepting its co-accountability for the events of 1915. It was important for us to call things by their names”, ARMENPRESS reports the MP saying, who added that the full process is not yet finished.

Dietmar Nitan considers there is much to be done in the future.

“The works of the coming years must be aimed at including this theme in the history text books of the schools”, he said.

Referring to the Turkish reaction and pressures following the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Germany, the MP noted that the Turkish public has broader world view than its leadership.

“Of course, there have been and still there are pressures by Turkey to influence the policy of those Western countries which try to call the genocide by its name, but we know that there are people among the Turkish public who acknowledge their historical mistake. I have Turkish friends and during private conversations with them it becomes clear for me that in reality the Turks wish to face their history and realize the fact of the crime. It’s just necessary to encourage them to face their history more boldly”, Dietmar Nitan said.

This is the first visit of the German MP to Armenia. He informed that he will be awarded by President Serzh Sargsyan, but stated that “Being awarded was not my motivation to do whatever I have done.   I considered it my duty that not only the memory of the victims is respected, but also similar crimes are prevented in the future”. He showed the Anmoruk (symbol of Armenian Genocide) kept in his pocket when he meets with the Armenian community.

After giving an interview to the reporters, Dietmar Nitan once again went to the eternal flame, this time alone, away from cameras.

On June 2, 2016 the German Bundestag adopted the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution, which is entitled "Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916".

Only one MP voted against the adoption, and one abstained.