U.S. President Joe Biden is preparing to move forward with a campaign pledge to formally recognize that atrocities committed against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire more than a century ago were genocide.

Biden called his counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the expected announcement. The U.S. and Turkish governments, in separate statements on the call, made no mention of the looming decision on the Armenian genocide recognition. 

READ MORE

What is going on between Czechia and Russia?

Earth Day revised: A year of firsts

Who is Germany's potential Green chancellor?

But the White House said Biden told Erdogan he wants to improve the two countries' relationship and find "effective management of disagreements." The two also agreed to hold a bilateral meeting at the NATO summit in Brussels in June.

During his presidential candidacy Biden pledged to recognize the World War I-era killings and deportations of hundreds of thousands of Armenians in what is now Turkey. 

He is expected to make the announcement Saturday to coincide with the annual Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day commemoration, according to U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

The issue is extremely sensitive in Turkey. On Saturday, parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop stated that Armenia's claims contradict historical facts. 

Ankara acknowledges that there were losses on both sides, but disagrees with the figures – arguing that the killings were not systematically organized and therefore do not constitute genocide.

Cover image credit: Evan Vucci/AP Photo

Video editing: James Sandifer