Relations between Washington and Ankara are entering a new period of turmoil after the recognition of the Armenian genocide by both houses of the US Congress. The Senate adopted, on Thursday, December 12, a unanimous resolution to "commemorate the Armenian Genocide by officially recognizing it", a few weeks after the vote in the House of Representatives.
With this bipartisan text, the Senate calls to "reject attempts [...] to associate the US government with the denial of the Armenian genocide".
"I am pleased that this resolution was adopted at a time when there are still survivors of the genocide," said one of its authors, Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, before being seized by the emotion and strive to contain her tears.
A genocide recognized by thirty countries
As in October, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian hailed "a victory for justice and truth". "On behalf of the Armenians, I express my gratitude to the US Congress," he tweeted.
And as in October, Turkey denounced without delay a vote that "jeopardizes the future of relations" between Turkey and America.
The Armenian Genocide is recognized by thirty countries and the community of historians. According to estimates, between 1.2 million and 1.5 million Armenians were killed during the First World War by troops of the Ottoman Empire, then allied to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
But Ankara refuses the use of the term "genocide", evoking reciprocal massacres in the midst of civil war and famine that have left hundreds of thousands dead on both sides.
However, the relations between the United States and Turkey, allied within NATO, are going through a period of strong tensions, and are at a crossroads.
Threat of sanctions against Turkey
In Washington, the vast majority of the political class does not feel sorry for what it considers to be excesses of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Especially since the Turkish army bought Russian air defense systems deemed incompatible with its membership of the Atlantic Alliance, and then launched in October an offensive in Syria against Kurdish forces allied with Westerners in the anti-jihadist war.
New sign of an unprecedented break, the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday adopted a bill supported by both Democrats and Republicans that provides draconian sanctions against Turkey and its leaders.
Although the Congress resolution recognizing the genocide is not binding, parliamentarians now urge the White House tenant to follow suit.
"The Congress is now united to tell the truth about the genocide, it's time for the president to do the same," Twitter spokesman Adam Schiff said.
With AFP
Newsletter Do not miss out on international news
Do not miss out on international newssubscribe
google-play-badge_FR