[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 3, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      COMMEMORATING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______


                               speech of

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 1995
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker I rise to join my colleagues today in 
honoring the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during 
the genocide of 1915. This horrible period still haunts us today, and 
the memory of the men, women, and children who perished remains.
  This was the first true genocide of the 20th century. Despite the 
atrocities which occurred at the hands of the Turkish Empire, despite 
the documentation, the eyewitness reports, and countless publications 
which describe these atrocities, some people continue to deny that this 
crime against humanity actually took place.
  Fortunately, there are many Members of Congress who have been willing 
to rise up and take a stand against this denial. I want to take this 
opportunity to thank the Members who joined me in initiating a letter 
to President Clinton, urging him to officially recognize the Armenian 
genocide: Frank Pallone, John Porter, and Marge Roukema. Congress can 
only make its voice heard on this issue if people like us, Democrats 
and Republicans, east coast and west coast, join forces to push for the 
recognition of this terrible human tragedy.
  I would also like to thank the Armenian National Committee, 
especially Elizabeth Chouldjian, for her ongoing vigilance and 
dedication in providing me with useful and timely information on 
Armenian issues. Without your help, Elizabeth, I would be unable to do 
this work on behalf of Armenian-Americans in my district and around the 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, if the international community is serious about 
preventing crimes against humanity, it is essential for us to recognize 
the atrocities that occurred against the Armenian people at the 
beginning of this century, by honoring the memory of 1.5 million men, 
women, and children who perished. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.


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