On Saturday, Joe Biden became the first United States (US) President to recognise the atrocities committed against Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide, garnering praise from Armenia. Turkey, on the other hand, was furious over the move and called on Biden to “correct this grave mistake.”
Biden made the statement on the 106th anniversary of the tragic events of 1915 that left more than a million Armenians dead. “We remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring,” he said. Biden also praised Armenian immigrants for enriching the US in “countless ways” and added that the recognition was not meant to cast blame “but to ensure that what happened is never repeated.”
The US Congress had passed a resolution in 2019 recognising the Armenian genocide; however, previous presidents have traditionally shied away from using the term to avoid tensions with NATO ally Turkey. On Saturday, Biden stayed true to his campaign promise of recognising the Armenian genocide and making human rights a top priority.
Armenians, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, welcomed the leader’s decision. Pashinyan, in a letter addressed to Biden, said that he appreciated the American leader’s “principled position” in recognition of the genocide, which he described as “a matter of truth, historical justice and security to the Republic of Armenia.” The Armenian foreign ministry also said that Biden’s recognition of the Armenian genocide continues the “American tradition of standing by truth and justice.”
The move has, however, unsurprisingly enraged officials in Turkey, who deny that the deaths of Armenians between 1915 and 1923 were engineered by the Ottoman Empire. Turkey’s foreign ministry on Saturday rejected Biden’s statement and argued that the US President’s action was “made under [the] pressure of radical Armenian circles and anti-Turkey groups.” The text further stressed that Turkey had “never avoided facing her history and would not take lessons from any country, including the US.” Ankara on Sunday also summoned Washington’s envoy to the country, to protest Biden’s move. However, prior to the announcement, Biden had called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and informed him about the upcoming announcement.
Azerbaijan also expressed its support for Turkey’s position and called Biden’s statement “unfortunate”, while highlighting that “the failure to give a fair assessment of the genocide committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis in Khojaly 30 years ago is an example of bias and double standards.” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also held a phone call with Erdoğan on Sunday and said that Baku stood with Ankara while denouncing Biden’s move as a “historic mistake.”
The Armenian genocide has been recognised by 30 countries, including France, Germany, and Russia. Biden’s move is seen as a victory for Armenia and its diaspora in honouring the victims that perished during the genocide.
In Historic Move, US President Biden Recognises Armenian Genocide, Infuriating Turkey
Biden made the statement on the 106th anniversary of the tragic events of 1915 that left more than a million Armenians dead.
April 26, 2021
SOURCE: AFP