However, in the course of the investigation, Armenian officials accepted the U.S. recommendations regarding border security and unannounced visits by US experts. The Armenian Genocide was the systematic mass extermination of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turks from 1915-1923. The Turkish government has since instituted a century-long campaign of denial, despite there being an overwhelming and abundant international scholarly consensus of the reality of the genocide. The United States had historically been uneasy to anger its NATO ally, Turkey, by recognizing the genocide, as Turkey has diplomatically retaliated against nations such as France, Germany, and Italy after they each formally recognized the genocide in their respective parliaments. On October 29, 2019, the US House of Representative voted 405-11 in favor of recognition, and the Senate followed on December 12, 2019, passing an identical resolution unanimously. These identical resolutions (H.Res. 296 and S.Res. 150) state that it is the policy of the United States to recognize and officially commemorate the Armenian Genocide, to deny association of the US government with denial of the genocide, encourage education and public understanding of the Armenian Genocide and emphasize the humanitarian relief effort led by the United States in the form of the Near East Relief to the victims of genocide. Following Armenia's Independence from the Soviet Union in 1992, the US established diplomatic relations with the country. The US supports Armenia in many of its endeavours such as a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reopen the closed borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and promote regional prosperity. The US has many trade agreements with Armenia such as the trade and investment framework agreement (TIFA), and an agreement on trade relations, and a bilateral investment treaty (BAT). The US and Armenia frequently convene over the U.S.-Armenia joint economic task force (USATF) to discuss mutual economic and governmental concerns. The Embassy of the United States is located in Yerevan, Armenia. The Embassy of Armenia is located in Washington, D.C.   "Statement by President Donald J. Trump on Armenian Remembrance Day 2017." The White House, The United States Government, www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-president-donald-j-trump-armenian-remembrance-day-2017/.