Biden recognizes Armenian Genocide

Photo: AA/File

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US President Joe Biden today (April 24) formally recognized the Armenian Genocide in a statement on the occasion of the Genocide Remembrance Day.

"Each year on this day, 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," said Biden.

"The American people honor all those Armenians who perished in the genocide that began 106 years ago today," he said. "We affirm the history. We do this not to cast blame but to ensure that what happened is never repeated."

Biden's declaration has become the first such statement by a US president since Donald Reagan in 1981. He used both the expressions of "genocide" and "Meds Yeghern," which means "the great calamity" in Armenian.

In the past, US presidents avoided using the term "genocide" while the two previous presidents, Donald Trump and Barack Obama, called the massacres "Meds Yeghern."

"Today, as we mourn what was lost, let us also turn our eyes to the future, toward the world that we wish to build for our children. A world unstained by the daily evils of bigotry and intolerance, where human rights are respected, and where all people are able to pursue their lives in dignity and security," Biden further said. "Let us renew our shared resolve to prevent future atrocities from occurring anywhere in the world. And let us pursue healing and reconciliation for all the people of the world."

By recognizing the genocide, Biden has fulfilled a promise he made last year.

In a phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday, Biden informed him that he would recognice the genocide, according to reports on the US media.

Turkey's reaction

Biden's move drew ire from Ankara as Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said it was "solely based on populism."

"Words cannot change or rewrite history," he wrote on Twitter. "We have nothing to learn from anybody on our own past. Political opportunism is the greatest betrayal to peace and justice. We entirely reject this statement based solely on populism."

“Words cannot change or rewrite history.”

We have nothing to learn from anybody on our own past. Political opportunism is the greatest betrayal to peace and justice.

We entirely reject this statement based solely on populism.#1915Events

— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) April 24, 2021

The ministry also denounced the US president in a written statement saying, "We reject and denounce in the strongest terms the statement of the President of the US regarding the events of 1915 made under the pressure of radical Armenian circles and anti-Turkey groups on 24 April.

"It is clear that the said statement does not have a scholarly and legal basis, nor is it supported by any evidence. With regards to the events of 1915, none of the conditions required for the use of the term "genocide" that is strictly defined in international law are met."

Turkey refers to the Genocide as the "1915 events" and denies that there were systematic ethnic cleansing and massacres of Armenians.

(VK)