This is an extremely positive development, long overdue, and Biden’s handlers deserve kudos for getting this one right. We can only hope that this will herald a new vigor in opposing Turkish neo-Ottoman jihadist aggression and expansionist ambitions.
“Breaking With Predecessors, Biden Declares Mass Killings of Armenians a Genocide,” by Katie Rogers and Carlotta Gall, New York Times, April 24, 2021:
WASHINGTON — President Biden on Saturday recognized the mass killings of Armenians more than a century ago as genocide, signaling a willingness to test an increasingly frayed relationship with Turkey, long a key regional ally and an important partner within NATO.
“Each year on this day, we remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring,” Mr. Biden said in a statement issued on the 106th anniversary of the beginning of a brutal campaign by the former Ottoman Empire that killed 1.5 million people. “And we remember so that we remain ever vigilant against the corrosive influence of hate in all its forms.”
The declaration by Mr. Biden reflected his administration’s commitment to human rights, a pillar of its foreign policy. It is also a break from Mr. Biden’s predecessors, who were reluctant to anger a country of strategic importance and were wary of driving its leadership toward American adversaries like Russia or Iran.
The Turkish government, as well as human rights activists and ethnic Armenians, gave a muted response to the news, which leaked days in advance, describing the move as largely symbolic.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has repeatedly denied that the killings amounted to genocide, had lobbied hard to prevent the announcement, mounting a conference and media campaigns before the anniversary on Saturday.
But in a call on Friday, Mr. Biden told Mr. Erdogan directly that he would be declaring the massacre an act of genocide, according to a person familiar with the discussion who spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose details of the conversation….
Hari Singh says
This was done in reply to Turkey canceling it’s F-35 contract. Biden is into “ Gesture Politics”.
SAFI says
Obviously not the case. First of it was the US govt that kicked Turrkey out of the F-35 program for
buying and then activating the S-400 missiles.
Also I can assure you this is definitely not a mere “gesture” from Turkey’s pov… and you’ll see why when the turkish lira takes another dive tomorrow…
Yesterday by the way was the first time Biden spoke with Erdogan on the phone since being elected and it was only to give him a heads up about today’s recognition. This is unprecedented in the history of US-turkish relations since Turkey joined NATO 70 years ago. Until now every American president would communicate with their turkish counterpart within a week from inauguration. Biden kept ghosting Erdoğan for three months
mortimer says
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day is April 24, the date (24 April 1915) when the Turkish government began the deportation of Armenian intellectuals from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day has been commemorated since 1919.
mortimer says
Kindly note that LEFTIST in the US are doing THE SAME THING TO CONSERVATIVE INTELLECTUALS.
They are EXPELLING ALL CONSERVATIVE INTELLECTUALS from the capitals of thought and influence before the MASS MURDER of conservatives in America.
gravenimage says
Mortimer, I am very disturbed by the treatment of Conservatives in the US today.
That being said, it trivializes the genocide of the Armenians to imply that being “canceled” is the same as the genocide of millions.
If you have proof that there is a planned genocide of Conservatives here, please supply it.
Simone says
An excellent response Graven.
SAFI says
Then I guess Turkish government officials and Turks on social media have gone apeshit for no reason. Armenian Genocide? More like the Ankara-approved Armenian horrible tragedy Day judging by every previous White House statement made on this occasion.
It was the POTUS using the G-word that mattered most both to Turks and Armenians
LB says
My guess is that Biden’s handlers like the shias more than the sunnis. It would explain all the free $billions shipped to Iran as well as distancing from the Saudis, which is coincidentally (or is it?) the exact opposite of what Trump was doing.
GreekEmpress says
It won’t change Erdogan’s game plan one bit, but being of Greek/Armenian heritage, I was happy to hear an American President finally call it a genocide.
gravenimage says
+1
born saturday says
it is notable for some, that biden did not refer to constantinople as istanbul, but constantinople, in his speech… the turkish government has replied many times fold today from its foreign ministry and from the ottomaniac sultan of the chalifate himself with the known audacity of a thousant apes that their rhetoric is used to, also saying they do not accept third parties interfering their history and so on…
SAFI says
My guess is that the White House used the historic Ottoman era name on purpose to distinguish from the new Republic of Turkey era name, with the intention to avoid being seen as throwing the blame on the modern turkish government but I’m sure Turks will give it a less benign interpretation…
Infidel says
Didn’t Constantinople’s name change after Mehmet the conqueror captured it in 1492? I thought that that was about when it became Islanbul
But despite supporting the reversion of Istanbul to Constantinople and from islam to the Eastern Orthodox church, I don’t see how any foreign power outside Turkey can rename it unless and until that city falls back into Christian hands
Crusades Were Right says
I believe the Turks were happy to continue the use the name “Constantinople” right up until the Ataturk era (20th century).
“Constantinople” had an imperial pedigree and ancient roots, so was a more impressive name for the capital city of an empire (Ottoman) than “Istanbul”.
SAFI says
You mean1453 and no. Ottoman turkish documents mostly referred to it by its traditional Arabic-Quranic name Konstantiniyye also in the west until the early 20th century it was almost exclusively know as Constantinople / Constantinopoli (IT) / Konstantinopel (GER) etc while in Russian and some other slavic languages it was mostly known as Tsargrad (the “Tsar’s City” i.e the imperial capital)
After 1923 the turkish republican government lobbied hard and eventually succeeded in imposing the more turkish sounding name Istanbul (itself probably just a corruption of the greek Konstantinupolis) at least in English and other west European languages while in Greek and some slavic tongues traditional names have persisted to some degree.
You are right of course about it now being firmly in Moslem hands but when did that stop Turks from being paranoid about it?
PS. Fun Trivia : ISIS also uses Konstantiniyye in its TR lang media https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantiniyye_(magazine)
Infidel says
Thanks, CWR and SAFI
Infidel says
I guess one could go a step further and call the city ‘Byzantium’, which under that name was never controlled by the Turks ?
born saturday says
in fact, the ottomaniacs were contrary, more towards silent, about the recognition of the armenian genocide from the german parliament….
Uve says
…because millions of Turks work in Germany and send money back to Turkey.
tim gallagher says
This appalling genocide of the Armenians by the Turks should have been recognised by every country as genocide ages ago. Still, it is good to hear about this news. It is a bit of progress, though very slow to come. Kind of progress at a snail’s pace.
gravenimage says
So true, Tim.
tim gallagher says
No doubt about it, gravenimage. Like other commenters here at Jihad Watch I doubt whether Biden’s administration is going to do much that is any good at all, so I suppose we have to be thankful for small mercies in that his administration has actually got something right.I like the GreekEmpress’s comment just down below this about the broken clock.
gravenimage says
Biden’s handlers recognize Armenian Genocide
……………………
Hear hear! Surprised to hear this from Biden, but am very glad.
California’s Governor has also recognized this atorcity and named a day of remembrance:
“Governor Newsom Issues Proclamation Declaring Day of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide 4.24.21”
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/04/24/governor-newsom-issues-proclamation-declaring-day-of-remembrance-of-the-armenian-genocide-4-24-21/
GreekEmpress says
Made me think of that old saying,
“Even a broken clock is right twice a day”.
Hope you are safe and well, GI ?
gravenimage says
I was thinking just the same, GreekEmpress.
Infidel says
Okay, finally ONE issue where the Dems happen to be right and the GOP happens to be wrong
James Lincoln says
Agree, Infidel.
ONE issue…
Boycott Turkey says
It should have been recognised a long time ago I’m glad it’s finally recognised but there was still a recent genocide of Armenians in Artaksh it won’t stop blood thirsty Turkey more needs to be done to stop Turkey to this day they are continuing to Genocide Armenians Kurds occupy North Cyprus and parts of Syria the point in recognising the Armenian Genocide is to stop this happening again
GreekEmpress says
+1
gravenimage says
Grimly true.
Felix Katz says
Where is the Hareem…………I wanna see the meat………………???
gravenimage says
What?
RichardL says
I don’t trust this. This government is doing NOTHING that is ethical or wise, so why should this be directed at the good?
Myron J. Poltroonian says
“Very Interesting.” Sgt. Schultz of Hogan’s Heroes. A query not without, unfortunately, just cause.
Myron J. Poltroonian says
I have been saying this since September 11, 2001: “If you want to know what life would be like living in a Caliphate and/or under Sharia Law, ask an Armenian”.
drew webb says
If there are any left it might be a good time to get the Nukes out of Turkey.
Phil Copson says
“OK, Tacip – here’s the deal: You don’t kick off when I condemn a massacre that happened a hundred years ago, and we’ll say nothing about the current one. Did I ever tell you about how I worked my way through college in Wales driving a school bus ? You ever driven a bus, Tacip ? Maybe you could give my wife a lift home – she’s in Navajo country someplace…..”
Ade Fegan says
But is Biden likely to call islam out as the cause of the genocide any time soon ?
….. Is he buggery
Crusades Were Right says
As we have seen from recent events, the Armenians who remain in their ancient homeland are still in grave danger regarding the territorial ambitions of the Turks (including the Azerbaijan branch of “Turkey”).
Certain other measures most now flow from acceptance of the genocide:
* admission and condemnation of the genocide from the Turks
* reparations for the family members of the victims
* transfer of Turkish-occupied Armenian land to the Armenian Republic
* the establishment of secure borders for Armenia
International pressure on the Turks, including, if necessary, military action, must now be quickly applied.
oskar says
I fully agree with both your nickname and your comment, Crusades Were Right.
There are very few Christians who remain in Anatolia and they are still horribly persecuted by bloodthirsty Turks. It had probably about 99% Christian proportion during the Byzantine Empire and just a hundred years ago it had 20%. Today Christians are just about 0.2% of “Turkey.” When compared to the Muslim proportion of Christian countries of the West, “Turkey” must be a so genocidal country that Christians are on the edge of extinction.
Crusades Were Right says
Thanks for that, oskar.
And it’s not just about addressing the wrongs of the past, or even the present; there remains the very real threat of future Turkish aggression against the wider world community, especially in Europe.
Imagine if the Turks ever get hold of nuclear weapons!
Boycott Turkey says
Turkey is trying to get nuclear weapons from Pakistan I think Greece and Armenian should get nuclear weapons as a deterrent from Turkey hopefully Turkey never gets them they should take the ones out that are already in Turkey from NATO I wish the world would wake up
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
Calling Putin out as a killer and now this?
Maybe Biden realizes Turkey needs us as much, or more so, as we need them. Time to stop playing “Chicken” we these governments.
Jay Bhattacharjee says
A landmark day in the history if human rights. Well done, President Biden and the current U.S. administration.
I would urge some of my confreres in this forum not to be cynical and needlessly cantankerous on this issue. A terrible chapter in human history has been called out for what it was. Well done, America.
Sooner or later, the international community must also openly condemn the worst genocide in the annals of humankind – the one perpetrated in India by the invading Islamic hordes and rulers for more than 700 years. I write this not merely as an Indian but as a human being.
SAFI says
+1 +1 & +1
I wholeheartedly agree with each paragraph in your comment. No need to antagonize “Biden’s handlers’ on this.
Lorensacho says
It was Biden’s decision to acknowledge the Armenian genocide but you gave credit to his handlers not to him. You just can’t bring yourselves to say anything good about the President of the U.S.A. Pathetic
James Lincoln says
Lorensacho,
Joe Biden is definitely cognitively compromised, the precise degree of which has not been made public. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the Mini-Cog test are two commonly used assessments that could be used for starters…
It is obvious that the few public statements that he has made I have been carefully scripted for him, and are read from the a teleprompter. Rare extemporaneous statements that he makes invariably come out as almost incoherent.
It is certainly reasonable to conclude that Biden’s handlers are calling the shots…
Shalom says
+1. I agree.
robyt says
It is something long time due to recognize history made of facts and not of lies… (of course this is just one of many others). The administration did it just to create chaos with Turkey, but why ? Turkey is still the second NATO army. The deep state is going full total confrontation on too many sides with China and Russia. They need Turkey for bith Ukraine and Lybia. So I guess there are no real plans to break NATO alliance at this time. Turkey should recognize the extermination and genocide of indian tribes in america at this point, so they are 1-1.
Jerome from Layton says
I think Pres. Ronald Reagan also commented on Turkey’s Armenian Genocide.