Congressional Record, Volume 142 Issue 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)

[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3776-H3784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, and
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] is recognized for 5 minutes.

[Mr. BURTON of Indiana addressed the House. His remarks will appear
hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.]

[[Page H3777]]

STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, today, April 24, marks the 81st anniversary
of the unleasing of the Armenian genocide, one of the most horrible
events of the 20th century and probably in all of human history.
Mr. Speaker, each year Members of Congress from both the House and
Senate take time to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian men,
women, and children who were slaughtered during the final years of the
Ottoman Turkish Empire. I am proud to continue this congressional
tradition today. I am joining with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr.
Porter] and other Members from both sides in these 5-minute special
orders.
Mr. Speaker, between the years 1915 and 1923 in the Ottoman Turkish
Empire, there were 1.5 million Armenians slaughtered and another
500,000 forced to leave from their homelands. What happened was not a
series of random atrocities but a systematic policy of deportation,
separation of family members, slave labor, torture, and murder.
Although the killings finally ended in 1923, efforts to erase all
traces of the Armenian presence in what is now eastern Turkey
continued, such as the changing of geographical names and the
destruction of Armenian religious and cultural monuments. This was the
first genocide of the 20th century, a precursor to the Nazi Holocaust
and the other cases of ethnic cleansing and mass extermination of
peoples in our own time. We must call it by its correct name: genocide.
Yet to this day, the Government of Turkey maintains its disgraceful
policy of denying that the genocide ever took place. The facts
contradict those denials. The historical record, including documented
accounts from American eyewitnesses, proves that the rulers of the
Ottoman Empire, conceived in the name of Turkish national ideology,
planned and carried out a program to eliminate ethnic minorities,
especially the Armenians. The record includes the eyewitness accounts
of journalists and diplomats on the scene and the eloquent and
horrifying testimony of the survivors. The historic record is clear. At
that time the word genocide had not yet been coined, but genocide is
what it was. Yet there were no Nuremberg trials. There has been no
official atonement by the Turkish nation. In fact, statements by me and
other Members of Congress about the Armenian genocide are routinely
dismissed by Turkey's Ambassador to the United States.

We must continue to persuade Turkey, the recipient of hundreds of
millions of dollars each year in United States aid, to officially
acknowledge the truth, and in our own time we must insist that Turkey
lift its illegal blockades of Armenia and accept the Armenian
government's offer to normalize relations without preconditions.
Just a few weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, the Turkish President came to
Washington on a state visit. For anyone who has held out the hope that
the President would offer an olive branch of reconciliation to the
Armenian people, the visit was a major disappointment, though not a
major surprise. The Government of Turkey refused to lift the blockade
of Armenia and accept the offer of the Government of Armenia to
normalize relations without preconditions.
Sadly, Mr. Speaker, United States administrations have also avoided
using the term genocide in describing what happened 80 years ago, no
doubt under heavy pressure from the Government of Turkey. While
President Clinton and his predecessors have acknowledged the Armenian
people were the victims of tragic massacres, these Presidential
statements have never sufficiently conveyed the full extent of the evil
that occurred. Clearly this entire shameful and appalling period of
history meets every definition of the term genocide.
Earlier this month, the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] and I,
as cochairmen of the Caucus on Armenian Issues, asked our colleagues to
join us in urging the President to make a much stronger statement
acknowledging the genocide. Fifty-nine Members of Congress signed on.
Last year many of us signed a similar letter. Sadly, although President
Clinton last year issued a powerful statement, he carefully avoided the
word genocide. I want you to know that I support President Clinton on
many issues and he has shown strong support for many pro-Armenian
initiatives. He has appointed a special United States negotiator for
the Nagorno-Karabagh situation, and the United States Agency for
International Development has devoted great resources to Armenia, but I
have no problem putting the President on the spot on the question of
calling the genocide by its proper name. It is very important and a
clear-cut case of doing the right thing.
Mr. Speaker, I want to say that while the purpose of our ceremony
today is a solemn remembrance of a tragedy that affected an entire
people, I would like to say a few words about the present and the
future. The survivors of the genocide, their sons and daughters and
grandchildren, have refused to accept the effort by the Ottoman Turks
to destroy the Armenian people. In fact, in the decades since, the
Armenian people have flourished.

One of the most inspiring events of recent years has been the
emergence of the Republic of Armenia, and we as Americans must support
the Republic of Armenia. It has, through great difficulty, registered
positive growth in its gross domestic product. It has moved forward
with the process of democratization. It has been having elections.
But the people of Armenia still need our help. They need American
help now. Last year, in the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations,
again primarily through Congressman Porter's help, $85 million in
United States humanitarian aid was provided to Armenia, plus an
additional $30 million for development assistance. Last year's foreign
operations bill also included the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, which
bars aid to Turkey for as long as Turkey blocks the delivery of United
States aid to Armenia.
There are a number of things our caucus has been doing, and I am sure
other Members tonight will also talk about more of them. But the main
thing, Mr. Speaker, is we must continue our support for the Republic of
Armenia, improving relations between the two countries, because that is
one way that we can make it clear why this genocide, when it took place
80 years ago, was so wrong and what the accomplishments of the Armenian
people have been since that time.
Mr. Speaker, today, April 24, 1996, marks the 81st anniversary of the
unleashing of the Armenian genocide, one of the most horrible events of
the 20th century, and in all of human history.
Each year Members of Congress from both the House and the Senate take
time to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and
children who were slaughtered during the final years of the Ottoman
Turkish Empire. I am proud to continue this proud congressional
tradition today.
I am joining with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] and other
members from both sides in the aisle in a series of 5-minute special
orders to commemorate this tragic anniversary. Other Members are
submitting statements in writing testifying to their deep concern about
this issue.
Mr. Speaker, between the years 1915 and 1923, in the Ottoman Turkish
Empire, 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered and another 500,000 were
forced to leave from their homelands. What happened was not a series of
random atrocities, but a systematic policy of deportations, separation
of family members, slave labor, torture, and murder. Although the
killings finally ended in 1923 efforts to erase all traces of the
Armenian presence in what is now eastern Turkey continued, such as the
changing of geographical names and the destruction of Armenian
religious and cultural monuments. This was the first genocide of the
20th century, a precursor to the Nazi Holocaust and the other case of
ethnic cleaning and mass extermination of peoples in our own time. We
must call it by its correct name: genocide.
Yet, to this day, the Government of Turkey maintains its disgraceful
policy of denying that the genocide ever took place. But the facts
contradict these denials: The historical record, including documented
accounts from American eyewitnesses, proves that the rules of the
Ottoman Empire conceived, in the name of Turkish nationalist ideology,
planned and carried out a program to eliminate ethnic minorities,
especially the Armenians. The record includes the eyewitness accounts
of journalists

[[Page H3778]]

and diplomats on the scene, and the eloquent and horrifying testimony
of the survivors. The historic record is clear. At that time, the word
genocide had not yet been coined, but genocide is what it was. Yet
there were no Nuremberg trials. These has been no official atonement by
the Turkish nation. In fact, statements by me and other Members of
Congress about the Armenian genocide are routinely dismissed by
Turkey's Ambassador to the United States.
We must continue to persuade Turkey, the recipient of hundreds of
millions of dollars each year in United States aid, to officially
acknowledge the truth. And in our own time, we must insist that Turkey
lift its illegal blockade of Armenia and accept the Armenian
government's offer to normalize relations without preconditions.
Just a few weeks ago, the Turkish President came to Washington on a
state visit. For anyone who has held out the hope that President
Demirel would offer an olive branch of reconciliation to the Armenian
people, the visit was a major disappointment--though not a major
surprise. The Government of Turkey refuses to lift its blockade of
Armenia and to accept the offer of the Government of Armenia to
normalize relations without preconditions.
Sadly, United States administrations have also avoided using the term
``genocide'' in describing what happened 80 years ago--no doubt under
heavy pressure from the Government of Turkey. While President Clinton
and his predecessors have acknowledged that the Armenian people were
the victims of tragic massacres, these Presidential statements have
never sufficiently conveyed the full extent of the evil that occurred.
Clearly, this entire shameful and appalling period of history meets
every definition of the term ``genocide.''
Earlier this month, Congressman Porter and I, as cochairmen of the
Caucus on Armenian Issues, asked our colleagues to join us in urging
the President to make a much stronger statement acknowledging the
genocide. Fifty-nine Members of Congress signed on. Last year, many of
us signed a similar letter to the President. Sadly, although President
Clinton last year issued a powerful statement, he carefully avoided the
word ``genocide.'' I support President Clinton on many issues, and he
has shown strong support for many pro-Armenian initiatives. He has
appointed a special U.S. negotiator for the Nagorno-Karabakh situation,
and the U.S. Agency for International Development [AID] has devoted
great resources to Armenia. But I have no problem putting the President
on the spot on the question of calling the genocide by its proper name.
It is so very important, and such a clear-cut case of doing the right
thing.

While the purpose of today's ceremony is a solemn remembrance of a
tragedy that affected an entire people, I would like to say a few words
about the present and the future. The survivors of the genocide, their
sons and daughters and their grandchildren, have refused to accept the
effort by the Ottoman Turks to destroy the Armenian people. In fact, in
the decades since, the Armenian people have flourished. The Armenians
who came to the United States and their descendants have made
tremendous contributions to our business, professional, and cultural
life. Armenians have made new lives and significant contributions in
many other countries.
One of the most inspiring events of recent years has been the
emergence of the Republic of Armenia. Rising out of the ashes of the
former Soviet Union, the Republic of Armenia has shown a remarkable
resilience, a commitment to democracy and a market economy. And it has
not been easy: Armenia has been squeezed by cruel and illegal blockades
imposed by modern Armenia's two neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Some
of the noises coming out of Moscow, about a reunited Soviet Union, are
most troubling. In spite of these difficulties, Armenia has been the
only former Soviet Republic to register positive growth in its gross
domestic product. The Republic of Armenia also moves forward with the
process of democratization, having held Parliamentary elections last
year and planning for Presidential elections this year.
But the people of Armenia need our help--American help--now. We must
do everything possible to make sure that they get that assistance, and
many of my colleagues are working equally hard.
The foreign operations appropriations for fiscal year 1996 provided
$85 million in U.S. humanitarian aid, plus an additional $30 million
for development assistance. Last year's foreign operations bill also
included the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, which bars aid to Turkey
for as long as Turkey blocks the delivery of United States aid to
Armenia. We are working to have this provision reenacted, and to make
sure that the administration strictly enforces this law. In addition,
last year's foreign aid bill had a cut in aid to Turkey, as a direct
statement of disapproval for Turkey's actions with regards to the
Armenian blockade, as well as the mistreatment of the Kurdish people,
its occupation of Cyprus and its generally bad human rights record. I
find it incredible that a country that gets $600 million in U.S.
taxpayers' funds can get away with blocking the delivery of American
humanitarian assistance to its small, struggling neighbor.

Another way we can help Armenia is by ending the illegal blockade
imposed by Armenia's neighbor to the east, Azerbaijan. Current U.S. law
blocks the provision of American assistance to Azerbaijan until the
Azeris lift their blockade. Unfortunately, last year, legislation to
waive this law was included in the foreign operations bill. This year,
we will try to be more vigilant to make sure that Azerbaijan is not
rewarded for failure to comply with the conditions of United States
under the Freedom Support Act.
Last year, Congressman Porter and I founded the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues, to be a voice for a stronger United States-Armenia
partnership and to better represent the interests of the Armenian-
American community. We now have 49 Members, from both parties and all
regions of the country. There is a lot of sympathy and moral support
for Armenia in the Congress, in the administration, among state
legislators around the country, and among the American people in
general. But we should not kid ourselves: we are up against very strong
forces, in the State Department and the Pentagon who believe we must
continue to appease Turkey, and among United States and international
business interests whose concerns with profits and sources of raw
materials outweigh their concerns for the people of Armenia.
In closing, let me pay particular tribute to the survivors of the
genocide. The horrors you have witnessed and experienced are
unspeakable. Yet we must never forget what happened to you, your
brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, friends, and neighbors. I
will do all that I can to keep alive the memory of what happened to the
Armenian people in the past--and to play a role in working for a
brighter future for the Armenian people.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, today, I join in commemoration of the 81st
anniversary of the Armenian genocide. On April 24, 1915, under the
direction of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, a campaign of Armenian
extermination began. Armenian religious, political, and intellectual
leaders from Istanbul were arrested and exiled--silencing the leading
representatives of the Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire. Over
the next 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered, with another
500,000 forced into Russian exile. Today we recognize the struggle of
the Armenian people to live peacefully in their historic homeland.
Armenians in the United States and elsewhere should know that their
history of suffering has not and will not be ignored. Like the Jewish
and Cambodian holocausts, the Armenian genocide stands out as one of
the world's most morally reprehensible acts. We need to address and
trace the causal factors leading to the rise of totalitarian
governments, and ensure that the seeds of fascism are never again
planted.
On this day, we should remember those Armenians who died 81 years
ago. I have cosponsored House Concurrent Resolution 47, which would put
the House on record honoring the memory of the 1.5 million genocide
victims. The House should pass this resolution and send a message to
the world that we will never forget what happened during that terrible
period in history and that we reaffirm our resolve to ensure that no
nation will ever again have the opportunity to participate in mass
genocide.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in
remembering and paying tribute to the victims of the Armenian genocide.
The tragedy of these murders cannot be overestimated--millions lost, a
generation of mothers and fathers, children and grandchildren killed. I
rise in solidarity with the people of the Armenian-American community,
as well as with the people of Armenia, because I feel a connection
through tragedy with them. I share that disabling sense of loss that
many in the Armenian community feel because I lost members of my family
in another Holocaust at the hands of the Nazis. I believe it is vitally
important to talk about these heartbreaking events, to keep the spirit
of those who died alive for the benefit of the world. And we must
continue to call attention to the horror and the inhumanity of genocide
whenever it takes place.
The Armenians who perished at the hands of the young Turk Committee
between the years of 1915 and 1923 were people like you and me--they
had raised families, worked hard, enjoyed holidays together, had petty
arguments, shared joys and sorrows. These people, just like you and me,
were killed because of who they were, and even today, 81 years later,
this chills us to the bone.
The atrocities began on April 24, 1915, when 200 Armenian religious,
political, and intellectual leaders from Istanbul were arrested and
exiled from their community in the Ottoman capital. Over the next 8
years, more than 1 million men, women, and children experienced
deportation, forced labor, and in some

[[Page H3779]]

cases, torture and extermination. This tragedy set the tone for an
entire century in which crimes against humanity plague our history
books and continue to cover the front page of newspapers.
I am convinced of one thing--the Armenian genocide existed. We know
it did. The National Archives holds the most comprehensive
documentation in the world on this historic tragedy, over 30,000 pages.
More importantly, I have talked with those who survived it. Armenians
suffered then, and continue to do so, whenever the atrocity is denied.
I think the most important thing we can do as a nation is acknowledge
this tragedy and continue to pay tribute to those Armenians who
perished under such terrible circumstances. it is my hope that by
preserving these victims and their terrible experiences in our communal
memory, we not only honor them, but may even prevent similar situations
in the future from occurring.
Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, today, on the 81st anniversary of the
Armenian genocide, I rise to commemorate the lives of the 1.5 million
Armenians who were enslaved, tortured and exterminated from 1915 to
1923 by the Ottoman Empire.
On this day in 1915, Armenian intellectuals, clergy and leaders were
rounded up and taken to their deaths. What was to follow was the ethnic
cleansing of the native homeland of the Armenian people. Over a period
of 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered and another 500,000
were deported. Before World War I, over 2 million Armenians lived in
the Ottoman Empire. By 1923, the entire population of Anatolia and
Western Armenia had been killed or deported.
This was the first genocide of the 20th century, and, tragically, it
was not the last. Prior to the invasion of Poland, Adolf Hitler asked,
``Who today remembers the extermination of the Armenians?'' In a
climate where no one remembered, the death camps became a reality.
Today, as the slaughter continues in Bosnia and Rwanda, it is more
important than ever to remember--and to stand up to oppose genocide,
systematic extermination, or ethnic cleansing. I have cosponsored H.
Con Res. 47, a resolution commemorating the Armenian genocide, because
of my belief that we must never forget the victims of this terrible
act, and that we must always be prepared to prevent further crimes
against humanity.
Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, one of the most profound
calls to action ever written emerged from the Holocaust. Martin
Niemuller expressed so well the guilty anguish of silence:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out
because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak
out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak because I
was not a Jew.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for
me.

This quote is telling because it can be said as much for the Armenian
genocide as the Jewish Holocaust.
In fact, it has not been lost on historians of this century that the
failure to recognize the Armenian genocide for what it was made it
easier, not harder, for evil men like Hitler to believe they could do
the same.
Today we in Congress are solemnly observing the tragedy of the
Armenian genocide.
By observing this event we honor the bravery and courage of those who
survived and we honor the memory of those who perished.
By observing this event we take a small step toward ensuring that
such horrors will never occur again.
I am honored today to rise on behalf of Rhode Island's Armenian
community--a vital and dynamic group that has made an incalculable
contribution to the life of my State.
During my years in the Rhode Island General Assembly I joined my
colleagues in consistently passing resolutions commemorating the
Armenian genocide.
Additionally, we passed a resolution that condemned the removal of a
photograph from the Ellis Island Museum which depicted horrors visited
upon Armenians. Rhode Island was the first State in the Nation to issue
such a resolution.
We can not erase the past by hiding it. We can not make today better
by ignoring yesterday. While history may not be pleasant, it is grossly
irresponsible to refuse to face the past and all the truths it
contains. This photo was restored and visitors were allowed to see the
past and learn from history.
As has often been remarked, those who forget the past are condemned
to repeat it. Because of that ever-present risk we must all work to
always remember and never forget the genocide, to cherish and preserve
the Armenian culture, and to continue to fight for human rights and
peace in this region.
Not until all Armenians are safe and secure, protected from harm and
threat, will our work be done. Not until that day will our cause be
won.
Not until that day can we rest.
Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 81st
anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Each year, I join my House
colleagues from both sides of the aisle in remembering the terrible
atrocities that have been committed by Turkey against the Armenian
people.
Members of Congress rise in this chamber every spring to publicly
remember the genocide, but far too often these words and speeches are
quickly forgotten. Far too often, people want nothing more than to
forget that mankind can be so cruel. Far too often, people whisper
quietly in the dark among themselves about how such a terrible thing as
the Armenian genocide could never happen again.
Mr. Speaker, those people who whisper such words are wrong, terribly
wrong. First, I would like to talk about how the Armenian genocide
began. It began on April 24, 1915, when over 400 religious, political,
and intellectual leaders of the Armenian community in Constantinople
were executed by the Turkish Government. Thus began a war of ethnic
genocide by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians that finally ended in
1923, when over half of the world's Armenian population--an estimated
1.5 million men, women, and children--had been killed. By the end of
1923, virtually the entire Armenian population of Anatolia and western
Armenia was dead.
While it is important to remember this horrible fact of history in
order to help comfort the survivors, we must also remain eternally
vigilant in order to protect Armenia from new and more hostile
aggressors. Even now, as we rise to commemorate the accomplishments of
the Armenian people and mourn the tragedies they have suffered, Turkey
and other countries are attempting to break Armenia down by maintaining
a crushing and total blockade against this free nation.
For five consecutive years, Turkey and the former Soviet Republic of
Azerbaijan have maintained a blockade of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh.
The blockade has cut off the transport of food, fuel, medicine, and all
other commodities. The blockade has driven over 90 percent of Armenia's
population below a poverty level of $1.00 a day. As many as one-fifth
of Armenia's 3.6 million people have fled the country. Because of the
ongoing blockade and long winters without heat, thousands of Armenians
have died from the harsh cold. These deaths are on Turkish hands, just
as the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians earlier this century are on
Turkish hands.
Last year, I led the fight in the House of Representatives to protect
Armenia from this vicious blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan by
stripping out a provision in the fiscal year 1996 Foreign Operations
appropriations bill that would have allowed the United Stated
Government to provide direct cash payments to the Government of
Azerbaijan before Azerbaijan had lifted its blockade of Armenia.
My amendment was approved by a voice vote, demonstrating widespread
bipartisan support among House members for maintaining the strict
sanctions against the Azerbaijani Government. There were over 2 hours
of debate on the amendment, during which both Republicans and Democrats
spoke strongly in favor of keeping prior U.S. law in place.
Although it has suffered greatly, Armenia is once again a sovereign,
independent country. Its people are strong and determined to succeed. I
am proud to support Armenia and the many noble ideals it represents. It
is my sincere hope that the United States continues to strengthen its
relationship with the nation and the people of Armenia.
Towards that end, I am extremely pleased that a strong and vibrant
Armenian-American community is flourishing in northwest Indiana. In
fact, my predecessor in the House of Representatives, the late Adam
Benjamin, was of Armenian heritage. There are still strong ties to the
Armenian homeland among Armenian-Americans. During the devastating
Armenian winter of 1992-1993, Mrs. Vicki Hovanessian and her husband,
Dr. Raffy Hovanessian, residents of Indiana's First Congressional
district, helped to raise over $750,000 for purchases of winter rescue
supplies of heating fuel and foodstuffs. In the last 12 months, alone,
the Hovanessians have raised over $1,000,000 for charitable and
educational purposes in Armenia and the United States. Two other
Armenian families in my congressional district, Heratch and Sonya
Doumanian and Ara and Rosy Yeretsian, have also contributed countless
hours and resources toward charitable works in the United States and
Armenia. One of the notable causes for which they have worked is the
Saint Nersses Seminary in New York, which sponsors an exchange program
between the United States and Armenia for new seminarians. I commend
these generous families for their hard work and dedication to
charitable giving.
In closing, I would like to commend my colleagues, Representatives
Porter and Pallone, for organizing this special order to commemorate
the 81st anniversary of the Armenian genocide. This remembrance will
not

[[Page H3780]]

only console the survivors and their families, but it may also serve to
avert future atrocities.
Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, this is a solemn day in the
history of the modern world. Eighty-one years ago today began a period
of systematic persecution of the Armenian people--what would become one
of the more terrible cases of state-sponsored terrorism against an
ethnic group.
Beginning with the execution of some 200 leaders from the Armenian
community on April 24, 1915, Armenians in Turkey were subjected to
cruel and brutal treatment. Those of Armenian descent serving in the
Ottoman army were subjected to forced labor and later executed. Women
were raped or forced into prostitution. Thousands of men, women, and
children were forced to leave their villages and either killed outright
or sent on death marches through the desert, where they suffered
horribly from disease and starvation.
When it was all over, nearly 10 years later, 1\1/2\ million Armenians
were dead--victims of torture, executions, and forced labor--and
hundreds of thousands of others were refugees. The terrible results of
this systematic persecution can still be seen today: where once over 2
million Armenians lived in Ottoman Turkey, less than 80,000 live in the
region today.
Many years have passed since the Armenian genocide, but we must never
forget what happened to the Armenians of Ottoman Turkey solely because
of their ethnicity. We must make sure that our children, and their
children, learn about the genocide and understand the circumstances
which led to such a horrific event in history.
In remembering the millions who died so tragically and unnecessarily,
we would be well to remind ourselves of what the terrible effects of
racism and bigotry can be. When a nation sees political gain in
supporting ethnic persecution, as Ottoman Turkey did in persecuting the
Armenian people, the result can only be disaster and tragedy.
We must also remember that individual cases of persecution are often
followed by more extreme measures. The Armenian genocide of 1915-1923
had followed decades of anti-Armenian persecution in Ottoman Turkey.
For these reasons, we must never, never tolerate discrimination or
bigotry in any form, whether it comes from a single individual or a
whole government. We must work together to ensure that such a horrible
tragedy as befell the Armenian people never happens again.
Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand and join with my
colleagues in commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Armenian
genocide. I would like to thank the other members of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, and particularly the cochairmen, Mr. Porter
and Mr. Pallone, for their tireless efforts in organizing this fitting
tribute.
On April 24, 1915, 81 years ago today, the nightmare in Armenia
began. Hundreds of Armenian religious, political, and educational
leaders were arrested, exiled, and murdered. These events marked the
beginning of the systematic execution of the Armenian people by the
Ottoman Empire, and also launched the first genocide of the 20th
century. Over the next 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians were put to their
deaths and more than 500,000 more were exiled from their homes. The
details of these atrocities are among the most cruel and inhumane acts
that have ever been recorded.
As we reflect today on the horrors that were initiated 81 years ago,
I cannot help but be disturbed by the forces who wish to discredit or
deny that these deeds occurred. Despite the overwhelming evidence to
the contrary--eyewitness accounts, official archives, photographic
evidence, diplomatic reports, and testimony of survivors--they reject
the claim that genocide, or any other crime for that matter, was
perpetrated against Armenians. Well, History tells a different story.
Let me read a quote from Henry Morgenthau, Sr., United States
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time, which helps to set the
record straight. He said, ``When the Turkish authorities gave the
orders for these deportations, they were merely giving the death
warrant to a whole race; they understood this well, and, in their
conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the
fact * * *.''
The world knows the truth about this sad episode of human affairs. We
will not allow those who wish to rewrite history to absolve themselves
from responsibility for their actions. This evening's event here in the
House of Representatives is testament to that fact. I would like to
once again thank the organizers of this event and I would like to once
again reaffirm my sincere thanks for being given the opportunity to
participate in this solemn remembrance.
Mr. ZIMMER. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to join my colleagues
today in remembering and honoring the 1\1/2\ million Armenians who were
victims of a brutal campaign of genocide between 1915 and 1923 by the
Ottoman Empire and its successor state.
This systematic campaign of murder and forced exile is one of the
darkest events in this century, and as we recognize it we should also
vow to do whatever we can to help prevent such atrocities again.
Today, we honor those who fell in the Armenian genocide. But we also
honor the spirit of perseverance and courage that has enabled Armenians
to transcend such horrible destruction by surviving not only as
individuals but also as a vital people.
Eighty years after the onset of the genocide, Armenia is an
independent, democratic state. It was the first among the former Soviet
republics to privatize agricultural land and livestock production, and
it is working hard to build a strong economy despite tremendous
obstacles, both natural and manmade. The 1988 earthquake continues to
leave deep scars, and the blockade of Armenia's rail lines and roads
has severely limited international trade. Turkey's refusal to allow
humanitarian relief to pass through its territory to Armenia also has
taken a tragic human toll.
Armenians time and again have displayed enormous courage in the face
of adversity, and it is that quality that we commemorate the most here
today, even as we honor those Armenians who suffered the evil of the
genocide eight decades ago.
Ms. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, today we mourn the 1.5 million victims of
an unspeakable 8-year genocide carried out 81 years ago.
From 1915 to 1923, over 1.5 million Armenians living in Turkey were
systemically murdered by the Ottoman Empire. And, throughout history,
the world has experienced other horrible acts of cruelty such as the
killing of 12 million in the Holocaust, ethnic cleansing/tribal warfare
in Bosnia and Rwanda and, most recently, the bombing in Oklahoma City.
That is why it is so important for us to remember this senseless
tragedy every year--so that we remain vigilant in our efforts to
promote peace and democracy throughout the world in order to help
prevent such atrocious crimes from repeating themselves. Only by
remembering such heinous acts can we move forward as a nation.
As we pay tribute to those Armenians who lost their lives, we must
also continue to denounce racism, sexism, anti-semitism, bigotry,
religious persecution, and ethnic violence both in the United States
and throughout the world. And, taking the necessary steps to eradicate
these prejudices will allow us to celebrate the many contributions that
all groups of people have made to our country.
As the world took steps to end the tremendous suffering endured over
80 years ago, thousands of Armenians came to the United States in
search of better lives. Today, they, their children, and their
children's children represent what is best in America. Having one of
this Nation's largest Armenian community's in my district, I am proud
to say that their strong sense of work ethic and family values, among
other things, is a model for other families to follow.
But, despite everything that has been achieved over the past 81
years, we cannot forget the plight that Armenia continues to face. In
the middle of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, Armenia finds itself in a
struggle for survival. Not only must the international community
continue to increase its efforts to bring about democracy and stability
in the TransCaucuses, but the United States must also must continue its
resolve to restore security in the region and cleanse it of ethnic
hatred.
All of us will forever remember this horrible tragedy. But, by
working together with other countries to resolve present international
conflicts, we will hopefully never have to speak about a similar
tragedy in the future.
Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my
colleagues once again in remembrance of the Armenian genocide.
In commemorating this terrible human tragedy, it is important for us
to remember other such tragedies that have occurred throughout history.
In recent years, the horrifying reports of systematic ethnic cleansing
and other atrocities in the war-ravaged former Yugoslavia have demanded
the attention and response of the Western world. The Balkan conflict
has proven to be a very powerful and chilling reminder that if such
aggression is ignored, an event much like the Jewish Holocaust can all
to easily occur again.
The events of the Balkan conflict have brought the Jewish Holocaust
back to the center of human consciousness regarding the history of
human tragedies and genocide. While it is important to remember that
tragedy, we must not forget that Adolf Hitler's plan for the final
solution was rooted in the Armenian genocide. Today, we must remember
the Armenian genocide and reflect upon the suffering endured by Armenia
and her people.
One and one-half million Armenian people were massacred by the
Ottoman Turkish Empire between 1915 and 1923. More than 500,000
Armenians were exiled from a homeland that their ancestors had occupied
for more than 3,000 years. A race of people was nearly eliminated.

[[Page H3781]]

However great the loss of human life and homeland that occurred
during the genocide, a greater tragedy would be to forget that the
Armenian genocide ever happened. Adolf Hitler, predicted that no one
would remember the atrocities and human suffering endured by the
Armenians, years prior to unleashing his plans for the Jewish
Holocaust. After all, he claimed, ``Who remembers the Armenians?'' Our
statements today are intended to preserve the memory of the Armenian
loss, and to remind the world that the Turkish Government--to this
day--refuses to acknowledge the Armenian genocide.
The 81st anniversary also brings to my mind the current plight of the
Armenian people, who are still immersed in tragedy and violence. The
unrest between Armenian and Azerbaijan continues in the enclave of
Nagorno-Karabagh. Thousands of innocent people have already perished in
this dispute, and still many more have been displaced and are homeless.
In fact, families from my own district in central California have
become tragically involved in this conflict.
In the face of this difficult situation comes an opportunity for
reconciliation. Now is the time for Armenia and its neighbors,
including Turkey, to come together, to work toward a sustaining peace
and to rebuild relationships between countries. The first step, must be
to recognize the facts of history, however painful or awkward that may
be.
Meanwhile, in America, the Armenian-American community continues to
thrive and to provide assistance and solidarity to its countrymen and
women abroad. Now numbering nearly one million, the Armenian-American
community is bound together by strong generational and family ties, an
enduring work ethic and a proud tradition of ethnic heritage. Today we
recall the tragedy of their past, not to place blame, but to answer a
fundamental question, ``Who remembers the Armenians?''
Today our commemoration of the Armenian genocide speaks directly to
that end, and I answer--We do.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of the victims of
the Armenian genocide.
Today is the 81st anniversary of the beginning of the genocide that
ultimately took the lives of one-and-a-half million Armenian men, women
and children. On April 24, 1915, 200 Armenian religious, intellectual
and political leaders in Constantinople were arrested by the Government
of the Ottoman Empire and murdered. It was the beginning of the first
genocide of the 20th century, and it continued until 1923. It was a
vicious, organized crime against humanity that included murder,
deportation, torture and slave labor.
The permanent exhibition of the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum, just a few blocks from here, contains an excerpt from a speech
by Adolf Hitler which says: ``Who after all, speaks today of the
annihilation of the Armenians?'' Mr. Speaker, that is why we must speak
today about the Armenian genocide of 1915-23. So that no individual or
government can ever think that such a crime against humanity will be
forgotten. By commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Armenian
genocide we bring attention to an atrocity that most of the world knows
very little about. It is a part of history that must not be forgotten.
The Armenian genocide was followed by a concerted effort to destroy
any record of the Armenians in Asia Minor, including the destruction of
religious and cultural monuments, and the changing of place names. I am
saddened that there are those who would prefer to forget the Armenian
genocide. To ignore it is to desecrate the memory of those who lost
their lives. And such denial sends the message that genocide will be
tolerated by the world.
To deny the genocide of the Armenians, or any atrocity of this scale,
is to forsake the value we place on human life and the principles of
liberty upon which this country is based. Those who turn a deaf ear to
the Armenian genocide, knowingly or unknowingly, abet the future of
genocide by failing to raise public consciousness about this tragic
reality.
As we remember those whose lives were brutally taken during the
Armenian genocide, we also pay tribute to the survivors--the living
testimony of this historic crime--and to their families, many of whom
are now Armenian-Americans. We must assure them that we, as the leaders
of the democratic world, will not forget this tragedy, but rather gain
the wisdom and knowledge necessary to ensure that we can prevent its
repetition.
The surest way to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian
genocide and all crimes against humanity is to recognize their
suffering and ensure that these acts are never repeated. As we pause to
reflect upon this grievous example of man's inhumanity to man, let us
strengthen our conviction that such atrocities never be allowed to
happen again.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, on this solemn day of remembrance I join
Armenians throughout the United States and around the world in
commemorating the genocide of innocent Armenian men, women, and
children slaughtered with ruthless precision during the closing days of
the Ottoman Empire. It is crucial that we recall the chilling events of
this dark chapter in world history, face the historical facts directly
and without hesitation, and dedicate ourselves to preventing such
atrocities in the future.
The historical record shows that in 1915, a systematic massacre of
Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders began.
Continuing until 1923, the cruelty and ruthlessness which marked this
campaign of terror still shock the conscience more than 80 years later.
Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives, and more
than 500 thousand were expelled from their homes. Innocent Armenians
were rounded up and sent away to unknown destinations to be murdered.
Uncovered by a researcher only a few years ago, a report from a United
States consul stationed in eastern Turkey from 1914 to 1917 provides
disturbing details of this coordinated effort to commit genocide
against the Armenian people. This record of cold-blooded murder is
harrowing.
Despite the calculated attempt to purge the Armenian people from
their land and erase Armenian culture and traditions, today the
Republic of Armenia is working to establish a vital and progressive
nation built upon democratic institutions. The Armenian Government has
drafted a constitution, launched a program of industrial reform,
privatized agricultural land, and made substantial progress in small-
enterprise privatization. Armenia also has taken steps toward resolving
the Karabakh conflict and moved to stabilize its economy based upon
free-market principles.
I am pleased that our Government has recognized the importance of
Armenia and has been working closely with international lending
institutions to help ease Armenia's transition to a market economy.
Through a comprehensive assistance program, USAID has funded numerous
initiatives in Armenia, including one aimed at improving the
distribution of much-needed commodities such as kerosene. Armenia has
cooperated with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund,
made the difficult fiscal decisions necessary to construct a market-
based economy, and steadily progressed towards a free and open
democratic system.
As we mark the anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we join with our
Armenian friends in remembering those who lost their lives in the early
years of this century. While we reflect upon the past and dedicate
ourselves to preserving the history of this humanitarian disaster, we
also look forward. We look forward to a future in which Armenia will,
we hope, grow prosperous, achieve economic strength, and, above all
else, enjoy peace.
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the
Armenian genocide.
The genocide committed against the Armenian people in the late 19th
century and the early years of our own ranks among the worst such
occurrences in human history. That it took place during the supposedly
civilized ``modern'' era makes the crime all the more abysmal--and the
need to commemorate it that much more important. The essential features
of the story can be summarized briefly. As the 19th century drew to a
close, authorities in the crumbling Ottoman Empire decided to crack
down against a growing movement for Armenian autonomy. After enduring
brutal persecution, the Armenians refused to pay the taxes levied by
their oppressors. As a result, thousands of innocent civilians lost
their lives and thousands more witnessed the destruction of their
homes--all because the Ottoman Government wanted to teach them a
lesson.
When the Armenians sought to publicize their plight by seizing a
government building in Constantinople, government forces instigated a
vicious pogrom during which over 50,000 perished. Several years later
during the First World War, Armenian service in the Allied cause
prompted the Turkish authorities to order the deportation of almost the
entire Armenian population from their homeland to two distant provinces
of the Turkish Empire, Syria and Palestine. Well over 1 million died
during this long forced march, many thousands at the hands of
government soldiers and many more from disease and malnutrition.
Sadly, we have not managed to escape the consequences of these
atrocities. The legacy of bitterness is readily observable in central
Asia, where memories of past injustice have complicated the search for
peace and stability in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Humanitarian Corridor Act
is another echo of the tragedy that occurred so many years ago. We
would have had less reason to prepare such legislation if we did not
also have to deal with ethnic conflict in the Caucasus.
One bright element did emerge from what befell the Armenians. As the
horror continued, thousands of Armenians came to this country; many of
their heirs now live in my own State of California, where they have
established an enviable record of prosperity and service to the United
States and to the broader world

[[Page H3782]]

community. To them, we all owe a considerable debt of gratitude.
The achievements of Armenian-Americans demonstrate once more that it
is possible to pay homage to one's ancestors while rising above the
traumas of the past and embracing the opportunities of the here and
now. This spirit is one element--no doubt, an essential one--of the
American genius. Let us pray that it begins to animate all the people
of the Caucasus region. Without a willingness among all parties to put
aside ancient feuds while working jointly to resolve the problems of
the present day, it will be impossible for the region to achieve even
half of what Armenian-Americans have managed to do in less than a
century.
Mr. Speaker, please permit me to close by altering slightly what I
said at the outset. Even though this is indeed a day of commemoration
for the thousands who perished in the Armenian genocide, we must not
forget the great duty of those now living to prepare a better world for
generations to come.
Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss genocide. According
to the Genocide Convention, genocide constitutes killings and other
acts done ``with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national,
ethnical, racial or religious group.'' Genocide has occurred throughout
history. Genocide is a crime that has been committed far too many times
than we want to acknowledge. It has been committed by many peoples
against those perceived as ethnically or religiously different. Many of
its perpetrators have gone unpunished; many of its victims have gone
unrecognized.
We are immediately reminded of the genocide committed by the Nazi
Germans against the European Jews during World War II. Mournful
remembrance of its 6 million victims was commemorated by this body this
past week. Less known is the genocide committed by the Nazi Germans
against the Slavic peoples during World War II. More recently, we are
reminded of the genocide committed by the Hutus against the Tutsis in
Rwanda beginning April 6, 1994. One million were estimated killed; 2
million were forced to flee to neighboring countries. Neither can we
forget the genocide committed during the past 5 years by the Orthodox
Christian Serbs against the Muslim Slavs in the former Yugoslavia. The
total number dead and homeless have yet to be determined. In addition
to these, we need to be reminded of another--the genocide of Armenians
by the Ottoman Turks, which occurred between 1915 and 1923. Although
this persecution claimed the lives of 1.5 million people and resulted
in the forced deportation of 500,000 people, too few of us are even
aware of its occurrence.
The Genocide Convention entered into force January 12, 1951. It was
ratified by the United States on February 23, 1989. It confirms that
``genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a
crime under international law.'' The convention recognizes that every
nation in the world has an obligation ``to prevent and punish''
genocide. As a world power, the United States must do whatever it can
to ensure that perpetrators of genocide are brought to justice and to
ensure that genocide never happens again. As representatives of the
American people, we must speak out and condemn genocide wherever it has
occurred. Each of us, individually and collectively, has a moral
obligation to acknowledge the wrongs of the past and to ensure that
they are never again allowed to occur.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, April 24 marks the commemoration of the
massacre of Armenians in Turkey during and after the First World War.
In what historians refer to as the first of this century's state-
ordered genocides against a minority group, more than 1.5 million
people were murdered. We mourn the dead and express our condolences to
the descendants of those who perished. We must also reflect upon the
meaning and lessons of their suffering and sacrifice.
As many have observed, the massacres and deportations inflicted upon
the Armenian community during that period were to mark this century of
horrors. Civilian populations, defined by ethnic, racial, or religious
distinctiveness, have become the objects of persecution and genocide
simply because of who they are--Armenian Christians, European Jews,
Bosnian Muslims. The range of victims--geographical, ethnic, religious,
and political--testifies to the universality of human cruelty and
fanaticism. The response of the survivors, however, testifies to the
indestructibility and the resilence of the human spirit, even in the
face of the most virulent evil.
Like the phoenix of mythology, the Armenian people survived its
bleakest days and arose with renewed vigor. Armenians' sense of
national identity has been strengthened and the Armenian language is
flourishing. Most important, independent Armenian statehood has been
restored to guarantee the security and future of the nation. However,
independent Armenia, the realized promise and the living memorial to
the victims of 1915 and later years, has endured a difficult rebirth.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has cost thousands of lives, created
hundreds of thousands of refugees, and kept the entire region from
enjoying the blessings of independence. Blockaded by its neighbors,
Armenia's people have suffered through cold, hunger and deprivation.
But their spirit remains sturdy, and their sacrifices link them in an
unbreakable bond with past generations of Armenians.
It is our fervent hope, Mr. Speaker, that future generations will not
have to sacrifice as their ancestors have. It is also our hope that all
parties to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh will build on the now 2-
year-old cease-fire and renew their efforts through the OSCE process to
reach a negotiated settlement. Nothing could honor the memory of the
victims of 1915 more than a free, prosperous Armenia living in peace
with all its neighbors, and moving and impressing the world with both
the spiritual and material products of the unbreakable Armenian spirit.
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to Mr.
Pallone and Mr. Porter for holding this special order today to
commemorate the Armenian genocide.
Approximately 6 million people of Armenian descent live in the United
States. The elderly among them still have memories of the systematic
persecution of Armenians during the years of the Ottoman Empire, and
the accounts of this terrible crime against humanity have been passed
down through the generations.
It is impossible to comprehend all of the genocidal horrors that were
perpetrated against the Armenians during this dark time. In a few short
years, approximately 1\1/2\ million ethnic Armenians were killed.
Another one-half million were driven from their homes, robbed of their
property, and saw every sign and symbol of their religion and culture
obliterated and replaced with Turkish nationalist symbols.
Journalist Marjorie Hagopian reported that when the Nazis
contemplated the destruction of the Jewish people, one of the leaders
asked whether or not there would be world repercussions for the planned
atrocities. Hitler is said to have responded, ``Who cared about the
Armenians?''
Would that the moral outrage of past atrocities against Armenians,
Jews, Romany--gypsies, gays, labor leaders, intellectuals, and clergy
prevent any such occurrence again. Sadly, even today we see in the
former Yugoslavia gross violations of human rights, ``ethnic
cleansing,'' massive forced relocation of populations, and other
horrors for which the Armenian genocide was a horrible precedent.
April 24 has been set aside to remind us of George Santayana's
prophetic warning that those who forget history are doomed to repeat
it. Today we honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide
and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to fight all crimes against
humanity.
Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in
commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915 to
1923 and pay tribute to the more than 1.5 million Armenians killed by
the Turkish Ottoman Empire. I commend my colleagues, Congressman Porter
and Congressman Pallone, for arranging this special order to observe
this horrific event in world history.
On April 24, 81 years ago, the Ottoman Turkish Government launched
their systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide against the
Armenian people. This violent campaign resulted in the deaths of over
one-third of the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire and
the exile of approximately 500,000 Armenians from their homeland.
Unfortunately, the persecution of the Armenians did not end in 1923,
but continues today. Since 1988, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
involving Armenia and Azerbaijan, has left more than 1,500 Armenians
dead and hundreds of thousands of refugees in the three territories. A
withering blockade of economic disruption has made everyday life a
struggle for Armenians. Acquiring necessities for survival has become a
great obstacle.
As a member of the congressional Armenian caucus, I have been working
with my colleagues on the caucus on issues which effect the Armenian
community. Recently, I joined my colleagues in sending the President a
letter asking him to join the congressional Armenian caucus to issue a
strong statement of commemoration and to honor the memory of the
survivors of the Armenian genocide. In addition, I urge my colleagues
to join me in cosponsoring House Concurrent Resolution 47, honoring the
memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide. It calls for the United
States to encourage the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge and
commemorate the atrocity committed against the Armenian population of
the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923.
New York State is one of the few States which has offered a human
rights/genocide curricula for teachers to use at their discretion,
which includes the story of the Armenian genocide. Educational programs
such as this will allow our children to learn about the tragic past in
Armenian history, ensuring a peaceful existence for future generations.

[[Page H3783]]

It is my hope that next year when we remember the 82d anniversary of
Armenian Martyrs Day we will be able to celebrate a restored peace to
the Armenian people and confidently proclaim that ``never again'' will
the world allow such a senseless tragedy to occur.
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, there is a well-worn saying that ``Time
heals all wounds.'' As we reflected this past weekend on the one-year
anniversary of the tragedy in Oklahoma City, we drew some solace from
it. Mercifully, the immediate pain and sadness of that most horrendous
American terrorist act in history have passed. However, while we draw
comfort from the passing of time, it does not mean that we are expected
or should forget.
This is an especially poignant time to recall another horrible act of
hate and evil, the genocide committed against the Armenian people in
Turkey 81 years ago. Just as we will never forget the terrorism
committed in Oklahoma, it is important that we not forget the 1.5
million Armenian men and women and children who were brutally murdered
in the inaugural genocide of the 20th century.
Each year, Americans, and not just Armenian-Americans, come together
on this occasion. We do so to do more than simply remember that the
Armenians were the first victims of what sadly has become man's
bloodiest century. Rather, we each hope that raising the consciousness
of past atrocities helps prevent similar tragedies in the future.
With tragedy so near and so fresh in our minds, we are easily
reminded that hate and evil are unfortunate aspects of the human
condition. However, it is our responsibility as Americans to remain
vigilant against hate, violence, and intolerance, whenever and wherever
it rears its ugly head.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BLUTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues for this
commemoration, and I thank Mr. Porter and Mr. Pallone for arranging it.
Recent history has seen the Armenian people subjected to a number of
very difficult, troubling and tragic circumstances. From being forced
to live under the Soviet communist regime, to the terrible 1988
earthquake--much worse than any this Nation has ever seen, to the
present blockade and violence imposed by the Azeris.
The Armenian people have long suffered.
But nothing is more tragic than the genocide which took place from
1915 to 1923. One and one-half million died, countless more lost
mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, uncles and aunts, comrades and
friends.
We stand here, more than half a century later, to ensure that others
will not forget.
Not forget the massacres. Not forget the persecution. Not forget the
death marches. Not forget the bloodshed. And not forget that all
citizens in the world deserve to live in freedom without the threat of
destruction by people that hate.
That is why it is important we commemorate this 81st anniversary of
the Armenian genocide. We can not afford to let the people of this
world forget that genocide can, and does happen. Already, this decade
has been marred by events in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.
In light of the sorry events in those countries we must do everything
in our power to make sure the people of the world remember the genocide
in Armenia 81 years ago. For, if we forget the past we will be
condemned to repeat it.
As part of this effort the distinguished minority whip, Congressman
Bonior and I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 47. This resolution
would put the House on record honoring the memory of the 1.5 million
genocide victims. The House must pass this resolution and send a
message to the world that we can never forget.
Furthermore, we are hosting a congressional reception next week and
encourage all Members to take a moment out of their schedules to honor
the survivors and the memories of the victims of this dark event in
world history.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to join today in the
special order organized by my colleagues, Congressman John Porter and
Congressman Frank Pallone, to honor the 81st anniversary of the
Armenian genocide. It has in fact been my privilege to participate in
such observances throughout the time that I have served in the U.S.
Congress.
Eighty-one years is certainly a long time, but the memory of the
atrocities committed by the former Ottoman Empire at that time against
those of Armenian descent still burns in the consciousness of Armenian-
Americans. This is indeed an important occasion, not just for Armenian-
Americans, but for all those concerned by human rights abuses and by
campaigns of genocide.
Our observance of this anniversary can serve as a reminder that such
atrocities will not be forgotten. That, in itself, is very important.
It is also equally important, however, to take this opportunity to
think of those innocent men, women, and children who fell victim to
this genocidal campaign in 1915 and the years immediately following.
Their lives were abruptly ended--in a brutal and revolting manner--but
they can come to life in our memories each year at this time. Those of
their descendants who migrated to the United States after this terrible
event still carry the memory of these unfortunate victims on this day
and every day, and I believe that their ancestors would be proud to
know how those who lived through this terrible event worked hard to
make a new, prosperous life as citizens of their adopted land, the
United States of America--and how they worked hard to keep their memory
alive.
Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank my colleagues for arranging this
special order on this important anniversary.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues tonight in
commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Armenian genocide. It is a
testament to the Members of the Chamber that year after year we stand
in the well of the House and pay tribute to the memory of the 1.5
million Armenian who were systematically slaughtered by the Ottoman
Turks from 1915 to 1923.
Mr. Speaker, April 24, 1915, represents a tragic day in the history
of the Armenian people. It is a day that has left an indelible mark on
the consciousness of mankind. Eighty-one years ago, the Ottoman Turks
unleashed the forces of hatred upon Armenian men, women, and children
in a deliberate policy of extermination. On this fateful night, the
Ottoman turks ruthlessly rounded up and targeted for elimination
Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders.
For 8 bloody years a reign of terror-ruled the daily lives of
Armenians in the Ottoman empire. For 8, long, horrific years, Armenians
were consumed by the fires of racial and religious intolerance.
Tragically, by the end of 1923, the entire Armenian population of
Anatolia and western Armenian had been either killed or deported.
On the eve of launching the jewish Holocaust, Adolph Hitler commented
to his generals, ``Who, after all, speaks of the annihilation of the
Armenians?'' Mr. Speaker, the Members of the U.S. Congress speak of the
annihilation of the Armenians. We speak out tonight so that future
generations of Americans will know the facts surrounding the first
genocide of the 20th century. We observe this solemn anniversary, along
with the Armenian-American community and the people of Armenia, so that
no one will be able to deny the undeniable.
Many of the survivors of the Armenian genocide established new lives
in America, contributing their considerable talents and energy to the
economic prosperity and cultural diversity of our great Nation.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is with a sense of gratitude toward
Americans of Armenian descent and a deep sense of moral obligation that
I join my colleagues in honoring the memory of these fallen victims of
genocide. They are not forgotten.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the
Armenian genocide, as we do every year on April 24. This is a time of
solemn remembrance, as Armenians everywhere set apart this day to mark
the genocide perpetrated against them by the Ottoman empire in 1915 and
afterwards. For friends of Armenians, this is an occasion to express
condolences and to show solidarity with the worldwide Armenian
community.
We not only mourn with them the loss of some 1.5 million Armenians
but we voice our determination to prevent any such horrors from
recurring. Unfortunately, the Armenian genocide was only the first in
this bloody century of horrors. Since then, powerful states have
singled out and massacred other ethnic, racial or religious minorities,
and to judge by the atrocities committed in this decade in Yugoslavia,
human cruelty knows no bounds of geography, race or religion.
Neverthleless, Armenians--the first victims of genocide this
century--have served as models of strength, steadfastness and
resistance. The most important target of resistance is amnesia.
Armenians have taught us the lesson that some events are too important
not to recall--no matter how painful--for the particular nation in
question, and for all of us, but equally important is the lesson that a
nation's hopes do not flicker out with the loss of so many of its
children. Instead of being defeated, the wound can steel the soul and
fertilize dreams of freedom and security.
Today, an independent Armenian state guarantees the security and
future of the nation. Despite all the difficulties and travails of the
last few years, Armenia has defended its people and will continue to do
so. For our part, we today signal our commitment to foster all efforts
to resolve the causes of tension between Armenia and its neighbors. The
road to peace and normal relations among the states of Transcaucasia is
arduous, but it must be pursued by all the peoples of the region with
the decisiveness and strength that Armenians have demonstrated in
keeping alive their traditions and striving for freedom.

[[Page H3784]]

Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, it brings me no pleasure to stand before
you in rememberance of the tragedy that mars this day in history. But
the silent denial of wrongdoing that continues to accompany this date
81 years after the fact underscores the importance of this special
order. April 24 stands as a black mark on the historical calendar; for
the victims of the Armenian genocide perpetrated by an unapologetic
government, I must call attention to these horrible deeds.
It was on April 24, 1915, that the Ottoman empire commenced a
genocidal cleansing unlike any that had come before. In seizing 200
Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders on this date,
the Ottomans announced that Armenians would no longer be considered
worthy of the basic human rights which must be afforded to all
humanity. For the next 8 years they would brutally demonstrate the
extant of these beliefs as they slaughtered 1.5 million Armenian men,
women, and children, and forced another half million from their homes.
On this solemn day, we must pay homage to the uncompensated families
for whom this day brings nothing but sorrow. The genocide of the
Armenian people has never been recognized by the Turkish Government; no
apology or reparations have been made. Instead, 81 years later, the
wholesale slaughter of human beings goes unrecognized and unpunished.
This day stands in infamy as a precursor to the atrocities of Hitler,
the unspeakable acts in Rwanda, and the recent attempts acts of ethnic
cleansing in Bosnia-Herzebovina. In allowing these deeds to go
unpunished we have said to the world that these heinous crimes are
acceptable, that the rights of mankind are not universal. But human
rights are not malleable ideas, subject to the whims of a nation and
the inhumanity of its leaders, and the bonds which one person imposes
on another can not be tolerated by a nation based on the concept of
liberty and the rule of law. It is for these reasons that we must
continue to honor this date, and in honoring it remember the evil of
which we are capable.
In honor of the 1.5 million Armenians who lost their lives for no
reason other than their heritage, we must ensure that the rights of
humanity are protected regardless of the false boundaries of
nationalism. We are all children of the same Creator; if we are not our
brother's keeper, there will be no brother left in our hour of need. As
we have said of the Holocaust, we say of this too, never again.

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