Ankara's response to European countries' recognition of the Armenian Genocide will complicate Turkey's accession process to the EU, said Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.
In an interview to Austrian "Der Standard" newspaper Hahn said that Turkey's criticism against those countries is conditioned by the June Parliamentary elections in Turkey.
According to Hahn, Turkey's tough stance towards the recognition of the Armenian Genocide might be popular with a certain category of voters, however, the consequences of such rhetoric arouse concern. "Antieuropean and antiwestern sentiments are being implanted in Turkey, however, that will complicate the country's accession to the EU", he said.
Ankara reacted rather vehemently to European Parliament, Austrian Parliament, German president and Pope Francis' resolutions and statements on the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.