Wednesday, April 24 2024 15:33

ArmInfo. Today, we pause to remember the lives lost during the Meds Yeghern-the Armenian genocide-and renew our pledge to never forget. This was stated in the statement of US President Joe Biden commemorating the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

"The campaign of cruelty began on April 24, 1915, when Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople. In the days, months, and years that followed, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths-leaving families forever broken, and generations forever changed.

As we mourn this tragedy, we also honor the resilience of the Armenian people. After enduring one of the darkest chapters in human history, survivors began forging a better future for our world. With courage and commitment, they rebuilt their lives. They preserved their culture. 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 this day 109 years ago are never again repeated.

This remains our solemn vow. Today-and every day-the United States will continue to stand up for human rights and speak out against intolerance. We will continue to meet hate and horror with hope and healing. And, we will continue to stand with all those who seek a future where everyone can live with dignity, security, and respect,"  the statement by the American President published on the official website of the White House, reads.

109 years ago, Turkiye  perpetrated the Genocide of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire.  Over 1.5 million Armenians were massacred based on their nationality. The Armenian genocide is recognized and condemned by many countries of the world and influential international organizations. The parliament of Uruguay was the first to officially condemn the massacres of Armenians (1965). The extermination of the Armenians was officially recognized as genocide (according to international law[177]) and also condemned by France (1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2012, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland - National Council (lower house of parliament), Sweden, Russia (1995), Poland , Lebanon (2000), Italy, Lithuania, Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, Argentina (2 laws, 5 resolutions), Venezuela, Chile, Canada (1996, 2002, 2004), Vatican, Bolivia (2014), Austria (2015), Luxembourg (2015), Brazil (2015), Paraguay (2015), Germany (2016), Czech Republic (2017), Portugal (2019), USA (in 35 states by law), Latvia.  The Armenian Genocide was recognized by the European Parliament (1987, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2015), the parliamentary coalition of South American countries (Mercosur), the UN Subcommission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities, the Parliament of Latin America (2015). Recognition of the Armenian genocide is not officially a prerequisite for Turkey's entry into the EU, but some authors believe that Turkey will have to do so on the path to EU membership.

The Turkish Republic spends heavily on PR denial campaigns and donates to universities that provide credibility to the Turkish position. Whenever parliaments or governments of different states discuss the recognition of genocide, Turkey threatens them with diplomatic and trade sanctions and repression of its own minorities.  In order to destroy traces of the physical presence of Armenians in Turkey, monuments of Armenian architecture in the country are systematically destroyed.

Deniers' arguments are usually modifications of one of the following statements: the massacre of Armenians never happened in the Ottoman Empire; the death of Armenians occurred due to negligence from hunger and disease during their expulsion from the combat zone; there was no deliberate policy on the part of the Young Turks to exterminate the Armenians; The death of the Armenians was a consequence of the civil war in the Ottoman Empire, which also killed many Turks.