ArmInfo. In the wake of the U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the U.S. Embassy and consulates in Turkey announced that they will be closed on Monday and Tuesday as a "precautionary measure" due to possible protests.
"Demonstrations or protests may occur after the statement of the White House on April 24 in memory of those who died during the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman era. As a precautionary measure, the US Embassy in Ankara, the US Consulate General in Istanbul, the US Consulate in Adana and the US Consular Agency in Izmir will be closed for daily services and visa support for US citizens on Monday, April 26, and Tuesday, April 27, " the press release said.
At the same time, the message recommends that US citizens in need of emergency assistance contact the diplomatic agencies by phone or email. The Foreign Ministry also advised U.S. citizens to avoid areas around U.S. government buildings and " exercise increased caution in places where Americans or foreigners may gather."
It should also be noted that the US Ambassador to Ankara, David Satterfield, was summoned by the Turkish Foreign Ministry in connection with the statement of President Joe Biden, in which he recognized the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. According to Anadolu from diplomatic sources, the Deputy head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Sedat Onal, informed the American ambassador that the Turkish side considers Biden's statement unacceptable and devoid of legal and historical grounds, completely rejects it and strongly condemns it.
It was also brought to the attention of the ambassador that the statement of US President Biden is void from the point of view of international law, deeply hurt the Turkish people and caused an intractable wound in relations between the two countries.
Recall that on April 24, US President Joe Biden used the term "genocide" during his annual address, assessing the events of 1915. Thus, Biden fulfilled his campaign promise to the Armenian community of the United States. Experts tend to believe that Biden's recognition of the Armenian Genocide is the result of the efforts of the Armenian community of the United States, which has worked tirelessly in this direction for decades. Ankara has already criticized this statement at various levels, stressing that it rejects it.