Erdogan: Biden's Armenian Genocide recognition "destructive"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, July 12 denounced US President Joe Biden’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide as “groundless” and harmful to bilateral ties, Arab News reports.

Erdogan had issued a carefully-worded statement moments before Biden made his landmark announcement on April 24.

But the Turkish president did not hold back his anger in a televised address that he also used to point out the U.S. history of slavery and persecution of Native Americans.

“The U.S. president has made comments that are groundless and unfair,” Erdogan said. “We believe that these comments were included in the declaration following pressure from radical Armenian groups and anti-Turkish circles. But this situation does not reduce the destructive impact of these comments.”

Erdogan said on Monday that Biden needed “to look in the mirror” when calling the century-old events a genocide. “We can also talk about what happened to Native Americans, Blacks and in Vietnam,” Erdogan said.

On April 24, 1915, a large group of Armenian intellectuals was rounded up and assassinated in Constantinople by the Ottoman government. On April 24, 2021, Armenians worldwide commemorated 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.