Erdogan criticises US House Rep for recognising 'Armenian genocide'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticises the recognition by the US House of Representatives of the Armenian Genocide by calling it as worthless and further adding historians should decide on such matters rather than politicians. The comments by President Erdogan came after the House of Representatives cast votes on the favour of passing a resolution to officially acknowledge the 1915 Armenian genocide on October 29. 

President Erdogan said in a televised speech, “From here I am addressing US public opinion and the entire world: this step which was taken is worthless and we do not recognise it. In our faith, genocide is definitely banned,” he said. “We consider such an accusation to be the biggest insult to our people.” 

Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Casvusoglu also reportedly said that the US House is trying to take revenge over the agreements that Turkey, the United States and Moscow signed on the withdrawal of Kurdish militia from Syria. Turkey has also denied the accusations of genocide as they claim that both Armenians and Turks die as a result of World War 1. Casvusogly further called the passing of the resolution a politically motivated step with no meaning and an attempt to rewrite a part of history. He also added that the concerned American authorities are the best to judge the damage that will follow after this decision is taken and how it will affect the relationship between the US and Turkey. 

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US house recognizes the Armenian genocide

The House of Representatives voted in favour of the resolution with 405-11 votes, to give formal recognition to the killing of approximately 1.5 million Armenian citizens that happened under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, modern-day Turkey, as an act of Genocide. Nancy Pelosi stated that it was an honour for her to be a part of something that took efforts to recognise one of the worst atrocities that took place in the 20th century. She further stated that the truth surrounding the genocide has been denied quite frequently and its high time that they presented facts to the House that the killing of innocent women, men, and children was an act of genocide. Former Vice President, Joe Biden, also posted a tweet supporting the move. 

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