Turkey claims Biden's Genocide recognition could hurt reconciliation with ArmeniaApril 22, 2021 - 18:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey has claimed that the United States recognizing the Armenian Genocide could impede possible reconciliation efforts with Armenia, the Middle East Eye reports. Several U.S. newspapers, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press, reported earlier on Thursday, April 22 that U.S. President Joe Biden would reveal the symbolic designation on April 24, the 106th anniversary of the beginning of the killings, becoming the first American president to do so. Turkish officials maintained that the U.S. move would be counterproductive and diminish ties already damaged by a set of disagreements, including Ankara’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems. One senior Turkish official said that after the end of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh in fall 2020, there was a real chance of a reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia in the coming months. “We would like to normalize ties with Armenia. If we see a positive momentum, we could open the borders,” the senior Turkish official told Middle East Eye. “If Americans call the 1915 events as genocide in such circumstances, this could sabotage the entire process in the Caucasus." The official said Erdogan's chief foreign policy adviser transmitted the same message to US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in March. Warnings from Turkey arrive every time a foreign country or President is about to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish Foreign Ministry also normally summons the ambassador of said country to protest the move. On April 24, 1915, a large group of Armenian intellectuals was rounded up and assassinated in Constantinople by the Ottoman government. On April 24, Armenians worldwide will be commemorating the 106th anniversary of the Genocide which continued until 1923. Some three dozen countries, hundreds of local government bodies and international organizations have so far recognized the killings of 1.5 million Armenians as Genocide. Turkey denies to this day. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | U.S. warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west Georgia has been warned by the U.S. not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |