On April 24, local time, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement strongly condemning U.S. President Biden for affirming that the Ottoman Empire carried out "genocide" against the Armenians.
△A statement issued by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 24
The statement said: "In the strongest way, we refuse to accept and condemn US President Biden’s statement on the events of 1915 issued on April 24 under the pressure of Armenian militant groups and anti-Turkish groups. Obviously, the statement is not academic and condemned. There is no legal basis, and there is no evidence to support it.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey stated that according to the strict definition of international law, the events of 1915 did not meet the conditions required to use the term "genocide."
U.S. President Biden’s statement did not make sincere efforts to completely heal the wounds of the past. It will not produce any results other than antagonizing the country and hindering regional peace and stability.
Earlier in the day, U.S. President Biden issued a statement formally affirming that the Ottoman Empire had carried out "genocide" against the Armenians.
The statement mentioned: "On this day of each year, we commemorate all the Armenians who died in the genocide during the Ottoman Empire, and are committed to avoiding such atrocities from happening again. Since April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire has been Constantinople arrested Armenian intellectuals and group leaders. 1.5 million Armenians were expelled, massacred or killed in the extermination campaign.” The statement finally stated that the American people would like to all those who died in the genocide that began 106 years ago today. The Armenian salutes.
Earlier that day, before Biden issued a statement, Turkish political circles reacted.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs listed the names of 31 Turkish diplomats on social platforms and stated that they died in a terrorist attack carried out by Armenians.
The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Sentop, said that the US President’s upcoming statement is “just a political statement without a legal basis”.
On the 23rd, US President Biden had a telephone conversation with Turkish President Erdogan for the first time since taking office.
Many American media quoted sources as saying that Biden told Erdogan during the phone call that he would announce the next day that the Ottoman Empire had committed "genocide" to the Armenians.
However, neither of the official statements issued by the two countries mentioned the matter on the same day.
(Headquarters reporter Gu Yuting)