Some people in Turkey believe that Ankara should follow Serbia’s example (as it retains to the Srebrenica massacre) and apologize to Armenians for the Armenian Genocide so that Turkey can become a full member of the European Union.

Earlier this week, Serbia's parliament passed a landmark resolution offering an apology for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre — the worst incident of the Bosnian War — but stopped short of calling it genocide.

In an interview with Turkish paper Habertürk, columnist Soli Ozel, who specializes in international relations, said that since Serbia was on the path toward EU membership, it was necessary to implement measures addressing those accusations of genocide directed at the country.

“That is, that decision is directly related to EU membership. Serbian authorities, though it was a difficult decision, made it, while facing harsh criticism and counter-reaction from nationalists ... But as for what concerns Turkey, on the issue of the Armenian Genocide, it has not yet reached that point. But it will be easier for Turkey from now on to take such initiatives. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry needs to work on that issue,” said Ozel.

Maya Arakon, a professor of Turkey’s Yeditepe University, in turn, told Habertürk that with that apology Serbia is trying to whitewash its history in accordance with EU standards, as its aim is to be a member of the EU.

“We too, having before us the Armenian Genocide issue, can take such an initiative... For the EU, such an apology means progress in democracy... As we know, we are surrounded by the Armenian Genocide issue on all four sides. Following Serbia’s example, Turkey can also apologize, without qualifying the 1915 events as genocide,” said Arakon, adding that it would strengthen Turkey’s positions in the domain of foreign policy.

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