WASHINGTON – Turkey summoned the US ambassador to convey Ankara’s strongreaction as Joe Biden Saturday becomes the first American president toacknowledge the 1915 massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
The decision shortly infuriated Turkey and is set to further strained tiesbetween the two NATO allies.
The symbolic move comes a day after the US informed the Turkish Presidentthat it would go ahead with this step and seeking to limit the expectedfuror from the middle east country.
“We remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armeniangenocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from everagain occurring and we remember so that we remain ever-vigilant against thecorrosive influence of hate in all its forms,” the 46th U.S. President toldthe world.
Adding that, the American people honor all those Armenians who perished inthe genocide that began 106 years ago today. Over the decade’s Armenianimmigrants have enriched the United States in countless ways, but they havenever forgotten the tragic history. We honor their story. We see that pain.We affirm the history. We do this not to cast blame but to ensure that whathappened is never repeated, “the statement added.
The move is much celebrated by the Armenian community all over the worldbut it comes at a time when both sides have deep policy disagreements overa number of issues.
Meanwhile, the Turkish entirely rejects the US decision which was basedsolely on populism. Turkey acknowledged Armenian killings in clashes withOttoman forces during World War One, but denies the killings assystematically orchestrated genocide.
This statement will open a deep wound that undermines our mutual trust andfriendship. We call on the US President to correct this grave mistake, theTurkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Turkey also commemorated martyred diplomats who were killed by Armenianterror organizations since the 1970s. We would continue to use the languageof truth against those who distort facts, the country responded.
Turkey also summoned US diplomat David Satterfield to express itsdispleasure, noting that Biden’s decision caused “a wound in relations thatis difficult to repair.