Armenia hopes that U.S. President Joe Biden’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide will pave the way for dialogue and eventually lead to the normalization of relations with Turkey, Acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian has told the BBC Weekend News, per PanArmenian.
In a statement published on the website of the White House, Biden made good on a campaign promise and became the first American President to use the term “Genocide” on the April 24 Remembrance Day to describe the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.
“As far as relations with Turkey are concerned, Turkey has been pursuing hostile and aggressive policy towards Armenia since the restoration of independence back in 1991. Turkey rejected the establishment of diplomatic relations, it closed border with Armenia and pursued increasingly hostile policy against Armenia. Moreover, Turkey directly got involved in the Azerbaijani aggression against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh by dispatching thousands of foreign terrorist fighters to our region,” Aivazian said in the interview.
“We do hope that this very important statement by the President of the U.S. will pave the way for dialogue and eventually [lead] to the normalization of relations. It will also contribute to the regional peace and stability.”
Aivazian believes the recognition creates a ground for Turkish society to face their own history.
“And also it induces the society to question the tragic pages of their history. I believe it will also create ground for dialogue between two neighboring countries. Abyss was created between two neighboring countries and I believe this will be a very important step for normalization of our relations,” the acting Foreign Ministry added.
