U.S. President Joe Biden is poised to officially recognize the massacre of Armenians by Turkey during the first world war as an act of genocide, U.S. officials revealed on Wednesday.
The officials noted that no final decisions or briefings have taken place, adding that Biden could still change his mind.
Meantime, Lawmakers and Armenians-American activists are urging the U.S. President to make the announcement as an annual statement coinciding with the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which will be marked on Saturday.
A bipartisan group of more than 100 House members signed a letter to the President calling on him to become the first US president to formally recognize the atrocities as genocide.
“The shameful silence of the United States government on the historic fact of the Armenian genocide has gone on for too long, and it must end,” the lawmakers wrote. “We urge you to follow through on your commitments, and speak the truth.”
On their part, Biden’s predecessors have avoided using “genocide” in the proclamation commemorating the dark moment in history.
This anticipated move may further complicate an already tense relationship with the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Accordingly, Turkey’s foreign minister has warned the Biden administration that such recognition would “harm” US-Turkey ties.
The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal first reported the news of acknowledging the genocide.
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