“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. Beginning on April 24, 1915, with the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople by Ottoman authorities, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in a campaign of extermination. We honor the victims of the Meds Yeghern so that the horrors of what happened are never lost to history. And we remember so that we remain ever-vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms.

The American people honor all those Armenians who perished in the genocide that began 106 years ago today.” – the statement reads.

Joe Biden is known for close relations with the Armenian-American and Greek-American communities. During his presidential campaign, he vowed a new focus on human rights, promised to recognize the Armenian genocide.

Meanwhile, Biden’s relations have already been sour with Erdogan. Before entering office, Biden described him as an autocrat.

On April 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone with Biden.

Details of the phone conversation were not unveiled. In a readout of the call, the White House said only that Biden urged a “constructive bilateral relationship with expanded areas of cooperation and effective management of disagreements.”

Turkey adamantly rejects the label of genocide. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned this week that Biden’s move would sour bilateral relations.

“If the United States wants to worsen ties, the decision is theirs,” he said.

US-Turkish relations deteriorated over the purchase by Ankara of Russian S-400, as well as its incursions against US-allied Kurdish fighters in Syria.

The last anti-Turkish measures were taken by Washington on April 21st.

Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported that the US and eight other countries had abolished the 2006 deal regarding the F-35 program and signed a new agreement that has excluded Turkey.

Source: SOUTHFRONT

Note:

Israel’s foreign ministry has released a response to the United States’ formal recognition of the Armenian genocide, saying:

“Israel recognizes the immense suffering of the Armenian people. It is our responsibility to ensure that these events never happen again.”

Source: Arutz Sheva