Biden recognizes mass killing of Armenians as genocide

President Biden is recognizing the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a genocide, a significant move that risks angering Turkey. Previous presidents have marked April 24, which is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, but have not used the term "genocide" to refer to the mass killings that occurred between 1915 and 1923. 

"Each year on this day, we remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring," Mr. Biden said in a statement on Saturday. "We honor their story. We see that pain. We affirm the history. We do this not to cast blame but to ensure that what happened is never repeated." The declaration came after Mr. Biden spoke with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, although statements from both governments after the call made no mention of the plan. The White House said Mr. Biden conveyed to Erdogan "his interest in a constructive bilateral relationship with expanded areas of cooperation and effective management of disagreements." The two also agreed to hold a bilateral meeting at the NATO summit this June.