Joe Biden recognizes Armenian genocide, sparks tensions with Turkey

The president of United States, Joe Biden, recognized as “genocide” the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, the first White House chief to use the term, a move that sparks tensions with Turkey.

The recognition, through a statement released this Saturday by the White House, increases tensions with Turkey, a NATO ally that strongly rejects this designation which has already been adopted by around thirty countries, including France and Russia.

“The American people honor all those Armenians who perished in the genocide that began 106 years ago today,” Biden said in a statement, using this word that the presidents of the United States had resisted uttering.

“Each year on this day we remember the lives of all those who died in the Armenian genocide of the Ottoman era and we are committed to preventing such an atrocity from happening again. On April 24, 1915, with the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople by the Ottoman authorities, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred or put to death in a campaign of extermination, “reads. one in the text.

“We honor the victims of the Yeghern Meds so that the horrors of what happened are never lost in history. And we remember them so that we always remain vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms. “, he added.

Strong reaction from Turkey

Turkey quickly reacted vehemently. “Words cannot change or rewrite history,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted. “We will not take lessons from anyone on our history,” he added.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said: “We strongly reject and denounce the statement by the President of the United States on the events of 1915, made under pressure from radical Armenian circles and anti-Turkish groups.”

Turkey accepts that some 300,000 Armenians died in WWI, but vehemently denies that there was a deliberate policy of genocide.

A few days ago, when the news that Biden would recognize the genocide surfaced, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came out to warn Thursday that he would continue to “defend the truth against those who support the so called lie.” Armenian genocide “for political ends”.

Biden made the announcement on the 106th anniversary of the start of the Armenian massacre in 1915, when Ottoman Empire troops fought Tsarist Russia during World War I in what is now Armenia.

As Bloomberg notes, Biden anticipated his decision during an appeal to Erdogan, although this contact has not been officially recognized. Communication between the two leaders was “strained”, it happened.

Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, also anticipated: “I have learned that President Biden intends the United States to recognize the Armenian genocide, thus becoming the first American president to do so.”

Biden’s move comes after 100 members of Congress urged Biden in a letter to honor his election promise On the subject. “The shameful silence of the United States government regarding the historic fact of the Armenian genocide has lasted too long and must end,” the letter said.

The United States Congress recognized the murders as genocide in December 2019 in a symbolic vote.

The impact of Biden’s position

Consulted by BuglePeter Balakian, an Armenian American scholar, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for poetry, said that “President Biden recognized the Armenian genocide because it is the exact moment to do so. It reaffirms the consensus of historians around the world. More than two dozen nations have already done so; but still, he is a courageous moral leader at a time when we need moral leaders. “

Balakian added that Biden’s words “make it clear that human rights are important; that genocide cannot be committed with impunity; that genocide denial is an ongoing act of genocide and a violent attack on the culture and heritage of the victim. These are the great things that his moral and historical honesty transmits to the world today ”.

Columbia University professor and subject matter expert Khatchig Mouradian said Bugle that “we have been approaching for years an American presidential recognition of the Armenian genocide. Academics and activists raised awareness and pleaded for recognition. “

The expert recalled that “when US relations with Turkey hit a low point in 2019, the House and Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of resolutions recognizing the Armenian Genocide. It was only ‘a matter of time before the executive branch does the same.

He added that “Biden, who has always supported resolutions on the Armenian Genocide, has kept his campaign promises to defend human rights and recognize the Armenian Genocide. With today’s statement, he has done both. This recognition primarily concerns the survivors of the genocide and their descendants, who fought for decades to make their voices heard.

Asked about the possible impact of this decision, the expert noted that “this may have direct implications for US foreign policy as well as for US courts dealing with claims for reparation. In addition, Washington can take important steps to commemorate and educate the public about the Armenian Genocide. “

“Regarding diplomatic consequences, past experience – for example, recognition by Congress of the United States or countries like France and Canada – tells us that Ankara will be back to business as usual. after a few weeks, ”Mouradian said.

However, “in the short term, relations between the United States and Turkey, which are already at a low point, will become even more strained,” he added.

The Armenian genocide is recognized by around thirty countries and by the historical community. It is estimated that between 1.2 and 1.5 million Armenians were killed during World War I by troops from the Ottoman Empire, then an ally of Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Washington, correspondent

CB