4 parties at Parliament condemn Biden’s statement

* Photo: Özge Elif Kızıl / AA

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After US President Joe Biden formally recognized the Armenian genocide in a statement on the occasion of Genocide Remembrance Day on Saturday (April 24), four political parties at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) have condemned it in a joint declaration.

Signed by Parliamentary Speaker Mustafa Şentop, the joint declaration was presented to the General Assembly of the Parliament yesterday (April 27).

While the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and İYİ Party have approved the declaration, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has voted against the adoption of the joint declaration.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the joint declaration of the four political parties has briefly read as follows: 

"As the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, we regretfully and strongly condemn US President Joe Biden's remarks with a statement dated on April 24, 2021 to adopt the Armenian lobbies' claims on the events of 1915."

"We strongly reject these baseless slanders, which have no meaning other than the distortion of history with political motives," it has added. 

The parties have also called on Biden to "correct his mistake by changing his remarks on the events of 1915," briefly saying, "We call on Biden to support Turkish and Armenian peoples to live in peace, stability and security."

What happened?

US President Joe Biden on April 24 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," indicated Joe Biden in his statement, briefly adding, "We affirm history. We do this not to cast blame but to ensure that what happened is never repeated."

Biden's declaration became 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.

"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." (EKN/SD)