On Sunday, Joe Biden commemorated the 107th anniversary since the Armenian genocide took place by issuing a statement honouring the memory of 1.5 million Armenians 'who were deported, massacred or marched to their deaths in a campaign of extermination'.
Although Biden has explicitly called the Russian invasion of Ukraine a genocide, he did not make reference to it in his statement. However, Biden did take advantage of the anniversary to formulate the principles for foreign policy, such as those imposing sanctions on Russia.
He said in his statement:
"We renew our pledge to remain vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms. We recommit ourselves to speaking out and stopping atrocities that leave lasting scars on the world."
The President's statement also made note of April 24, 1915, when Ottoman officials arrested Armenian community leaders and intellectuals in Constantinople, defining this event as the beginning of the genocide.
Although past US Presidents avoided the use of the term 'genocide' for decades out of fear of causing friction with Turkey, which is a member of NATO; Biden fulfilled his campaign promise by using the word for the first time during last year's anniversary.
Turkish officials reacted negatively to Biden following his declaration last year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Turkey had soon issued a statement, saying:
"We reject and denounce in the strongest terms the statement of the President of the US regarding the events of 1915 made under the pressure of radical Armenian circles and anti-Turkey groups."
[Based on reporting by: VOA news]
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