Erdogan: Armenia 'Genocide' Used to Blackmail Turkey

On Thursday, the German parliament voted to label the 1915 killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as "genocide", prompting Ankara to recall its ambassador.

In his strongest reaction yet, Erdogan said late on Saturday the German parliament's resolution will have no impact on Turkey's position on the issue.

"The Armenian issue is a useful blackmail opportunity against Turkey all around the world, and it is even starting to be used as a stick," he said in a televised speech reported by Al Jazeera.

"I am addressing the whole world. You may like it, you may not. Our attitude on the Armenian issue is clear from the beginning. We will never accept the accusations of genocide."

Turkey agrees that many Armenians died in ethnic fighting and the deportation process between 1915 and 1917 during World War I, putting its estimate at 300,000 casualties.

Armenia says 1.5 million died in the process in what it calls a "genocide".

The dispute sparked alarm over the potential damage to relations between Turkey and Germany at a sensitive time when the two sides are working together to implement a deal seeking to stem the flow of refugees into the EU.

"Either we find solutions to our problems in a fair way, or Turkey will stop being a barrier in front of the problems of Europe," Erdogan said. "We will leave you to your own worries".

Speaking after Thursday's vote, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who skipped the ballot due to "public engagements", emphasized on the close ties between the two countries and said that Germany's relations with Turkey remain "broad and strong".

"There is a lot that binds Germany to Turkey and even if we have a difference of opinion on an individual matter, the breadth of our links, our friendship, our strategic ties, is great," Merkel said.

Yet, Erdogan expressed disappointment over Merkel's stance, saying he wished she had taken part "and cast her vote.