Biden acknowledges atrocities versus Armenians as genocide

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Biden recognizes atrocities against Armenians as genocide

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President Joe Biden provides remarks and takes part in the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Session 5: The Economic Opportunities of Climate Action from the White House in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2021.

Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images

President Joe Biden on Saturday acknowledged the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Empire forces in the early 20th century as a genocide, a historical though mostly symbolic relocation that will likely strain currently laden relations with Turkey.

Biden’s statement is a significant break from previous U.S. administrations, which prevented calling the atrocities genocide due to issues over pushing away Turkey, an essential NATO ally and prominent power in the Middle East. Turkey has actually objected to that the killings make up a genocide.

“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,” Biden stated in a declaration on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

As a prospect, Biden in 2015 pledged to make this statement, which is commonly supported by human rights groups and Armenians. The Trump administration avoided acknowledging the occasions as a genocide, rather identifying them as “mass atrocities.”

People lay flowers at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex on Tsitsernakaberd Hill on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which celebrates to honor the victims of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

Hayk Baghdasaryan | TASS | Getty Images

Following the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and neighborhood leaders in Constantinople – now referred to as Istanbul – by Ottoman authorities, approximately 1.5 million Armenians were eliminated in cases referred to as Meds Yeghern that happened from 1915 – 1923.

“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 stated. “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.” 

The Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated Saturday that the Biden administration’s declaration would “open a deep wound that undermines our mutual trust and friendship.”

Read the complete declaration from the White House:

Each year on this day, we keep in mind the lives of all those who passed away in the Ottoman-period Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to avoiding such an atrocity from ever once again happening. Beginning on April 24, 1915, with the arrest of Armenian intellectuals and neighborhood leaders in Constantinople by Ottoman authorities, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths in a project of extermination. We honor the victims of the Meds Yeghern so that the scaries of what occurred are never ever lost to history. And we keep in mind so that we stay ever-vigilant versus the destructive impact of hate in all its types.
 
Of those who made it through, a lot of were required to discover brand-new houses and brand-new lives around the globe, consisting of in the United States. With strength and durability, the Armenian individuals made it through and reconstructed their neighborhood. Over the years Armenian immigrants have actually improved the United States in numerous methods, however they have actually always remembered the awful history that brought numerous of their forefathers to our coasts. We honor their story. We see that discomfort. We verify the history. We do this not to cast blame however to guarantee that what taken place is never ever duplicated.
 
Today, as we grieve what was lost, let us likewise turn our eyes to the future—towards the world that we want to construct for our kids. A world unstained by the everyday evils of bigotry and intolerance, where human rights are appreciated, and where all individuals have the ability to pursue their lives in self-respect and security. Let us restore our shared willpower to avoid future atrocities from happening throughout the world. And let us pursue recovery and reconciliation for all individuals of the world. 
 
The American individuals honor all those Armenians who died in the genocide that started 106 years ago today.