US President Joe Biden makes explicit reference to the Armenian Genocide in a message on April 24, a day of remembrance for the massacres by the Ottomans that began in 1915 and continued in the years to come.
The US President referred to one of the “darkest chapters in the history of humanity” and added that the US “will continue to stand up for human rights and speak out against intolerance”.
It will be recalled that Joe Biden in 2021 became the first US president to officially recognise the Armenian Genocide. His predecessors simply used the term Meds Yeghern (Armenian for “Great Catastrophe”) rather than “Genocide” to avoid upsetting relations with Turkey.
Interestingly, the president also referred to Constantinople, referring to the events of 1915.
President Biden’s message:
Today, we stand to remember the lives lost during the Armenian Genocide and renew our commitment to never forget.
The campaign of cruelty began on April 24, 1915, when Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Istanbul.
In the days, months and years that followed, 1.5 million Armenians were deported, massacred or put to death – leaving families shattered and generations forever changed.
As we mourn this tragedy, we also honour the resilience of the Armenian people. After enduring one of the darkest chapters in human history, the survivors began to forge a better future for our world.
With courage and commitment, they rebuilt their lives. They preserved their civilisation.
They strengthened the fabric of nations around the world – including our own. And they told their stories to ensure that the mass atrocities that began on that day 109 years ago are never repeated again.
That remains our vow. Today – and every day – the United States will continue to stand for human rights and speak out against intolerance. We will continue to respond to hate and horror with hope and healing.
And, we will continue to stand with all those who seek a future where all can live with dignity, safety, and respect.
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