Sweedish PM apologizes to Erdogan in wake of Armenian reslotuion

Swedish Prime Minister Frederick Reinfeldt called his Turkish counterpart late Saturday to apologize for a vote in the Swedish Parliament which recognized the so-called Armenian "genocide" claims. "The government is absolutely against the resolution, which was ratified as a result of domestic policy, and it will have no sanction or exercise power," Reinfeldt said, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office. The controversial 131-130 vote came as a blow to the "excellent diplomatic relations" between the countries, Turkish diplomats said. "We will not allow this resolution to affect bilateral relations in a negative way," Reinfeldt said. "Sweden will continue supporting Turkey, especially in its EU accession process, as always. We are ready to do our best to protect our existing relations from such a baseless decision made by only one vote." In reply, Erdogan said that politicians cannot reshape history. "Turkey has opened its archives to historians, scholars and researchers from all sides," he said. "Such political efforts, which result from ignorance and prejudice, disrupt both scholarship and Turkey's peace efforts in the region." Expressing his disappointment with the resolution, Erdogan urged the Swedish government "to take steps to remedy this mistake." In protest of the vote, Erdogan canceled a visit to Stockholm, and Turkish Ambassador Zergun Koruturk has been recalled to Ankara.