Turkey: Opposition urges action against Biden statement

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) – The leader of an opposition party in Turkey urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday to take action in response to a recent statement by his US counterpart on the events of 1915.

"Armenia has been telling this lie for 100 years. Moreover, you don't have any relations with Yerevan. In addition, that was not (Armenian Prime Minister Nikol) Pashinyan, but your old friend Joe Biden, with whom you met in your home with your whole family, who made this statement," Meral Aksener said during an address to her Good (IYI) Party's parliamentary group.

"Gather your courage, say two words, take two steps in accordance to the expectations of our nation," she added.

On April 24, Biden called the events of 1915 a "genocide," breaking American presidents’ long-held tradition of refraining from using the term.

"The Turkish nation expects you to respond in a manner worthy of your office. The Turkish nation expects statesmanship from you," said Aksener, urging Erdogan to call for early elections.

"We can do what needs to be done with our nation's authorization. It's so simple," she added.

– Turkish stance on 1915 events

Turkey's position on the events of 1915 is that the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia took place when some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.

Turkey objects to the presentation of these incidents as "genocide," describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.

Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia as well as international experts to tackle the issue.

In 2014, Recep Tayyip Erdogan — Turkey's then-prime minister and now president — expressed his condolences to the descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the events of 1915.

ALATURKA AİLESİ ÜYELERİ NE DİYOR?