2 hours agoBiden talks on the phone with Erdogan, first contact since January
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)United States President Joe Biden has held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan, the White House announced. This is the first direct communication between the leaders of the two NATO allies, whose reports have been greatly weakened. The long - awaited call occurred more than three months after the inauguration [...]
The long-awaited call took place more than three months after Benden's inauguration into the position of US president, a signal that he would not hold the same course towards Turkish leaders, such as his predecessor, Donald Trump.
On 24 April, on the Memorial Day of the massacre on Armenians, Beden is expected to declare that the killing and deportation of Armenians to the Ottoman Empire in 1915 constitute genocide.
It is almost certain that the move will anger Ankara and damage most reports between the two countries.
The Reuters agency, calling to its sources, reports that Biden has suggested that Erdogan plans to recognise the massacre of Armenians as genocide.
The White House announcement did not mention this issue.
“President Biden spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan, and showed his interest in constructive reports of co-operation and effective management of disputes”, the White House said in a statement.
The announcement said the two leaders agreed to meet at the framework of NATO's summit in June.
Meanwhile, in a Turkish presidency report, Erdogan and Biden reportedly agreed to improve co-operation.
The US administration has not confirmed plans to recognise the Armenian genocide, but Biden has promised during his presidential campaign that he would do so.
Turkey insists that the killings and expulsions of ethnic Armenians in what was then the Ottoman Empire were not genocide, but a result of the broader conflict in World War I.
Despite Turkish pressure, several major states, such as France and Germany, have recognised him as genocide, but many states have refrained.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned in an interview that Beden's plans would irritate bilateral relations.
