President Biden Recognizes Armenian Genocide | Israel today

For the first time in history, an American leader recognized the massacre perpetrated by the Turkish army during World War I as a genocide. • Turkey reacted negatively to the decision

• US President Joe Biden // Photo: AP

US President Joe Biden today released a memo acknowledging for the first time in his country's history the Armenian Genocide, a massacre during which more than a million American citizens were deported and murdered in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. 

"The American people cherish the memory of all the Armenians who were murdered in the genocide that began 106 years ago today. Over the years, Armenian immigrants have enriched the United States in a variety of ways. We cherish their story. We see their pain. We accept their history. We do not. To blame but to make sure that what happened in the world does not happen again, President Biden wrote. 

For decades, Turkey has opposed any recognition of Armenian genocide by its allies and has set it as a red line in its foreign policy.

Azerbaijan, which is in conflict with Armenia, has also repeatedly expressed opposition to such recognition.

Which opens a deep wound and undermines our relationship with the United States. " 

In 2019 the U.S. House of Representatives voted by an overwhelming majority of 405-11, in favor of the official recognition of the mass murder of Armenians about a hundred years ago, as genocide.

The recognition step is considered symbolic but of great historical importance.

The Turkish government at the time condemned the decision and summoned the US ambassador to Ankara for a clarification call.