Understanding What Joe Biden Said Two Days After the Euphoria

Interethnic conflict expert Nairi Hovhikian wrote on his Facebook page: "What did Biden say and how should we understand it? Two days after hearing the words 'Armenian Genocide' from the US president, let’s try to understand with a cold mind what Joe Biden said and what was hidden between the lines of his message.

First, it is important to note that after 1981, the phrase 'Armenian genocide' was pronounced again at the presidential level in the United States, mentioned twice in the same text. This is the result of long-term efforts of the Armenian claims movement, in which American Armenians, the structures of the ARF in the diaspora, and the Armenian Cause play a significant role. Therefore, the Armenian government or any other political body has no right to take credit for this.

However, alongside the excitement, let’s pay attention to the fact that there is no mention of the historical homeland of the Armenians, Western Armenia, in the text. Instead, the term 'Ottoman' is used twice. This is the same as saying that the Armenian genocide took place in a place unrelated to our historical homeland, while the most important fact here is that Armenians were genocided in their historical homeland.

Why am I stressing this? Because by ignoring the fact of the genocide occurring in their historical homeland, US diplomacy is not really giving us the opportunity for claims. Moreover, there isn’t even a word about Turkey in the text, therefore we cannot rely on the US president's text to demand restitution from Turkey for the crimes committed by the Ottoman Empire.

One of the next points is that the US president does not blame anyone for the genocide. Note this: 'We affirm the history. We do this not to cast blame but to ensure that what happened is never repeated.' Is today’s Turkey not responsible for the genocide of 1915? According to the logic of the US president's statement—NO. The thought of refraining from blame is immediately followed by the line: 'Today, as we mourn what was lost, let us also turn our eyes to the future—toward the world that we wish to build for our children.'

These are humanly beautiful and humanitarian words that, however, are far from justice. In other words, it’s a pity that you were slaughtered a century ago, but let’s not blame anyone and move on, reconciling for the sake of our children. This is the whole essence of Biden's statement. Despite this, the statement made by the US president is another important step for the international recognition of the Armenian genocide."