[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I join all of my colleagues today in 
commemoration of April 24, 1996, the 81st anniversary of the Armenian 
genocide which occurred under such tragic circumstances 81 years ago, 
and it is my purpose to join with my colleagues to insist that such 
inhumanity never be repeated again.
  Mr. Speaker, today we are recalling the loss of 1\1/2\ million 
Armenians who were killed and a half million more who were driven from 
Turkey. No person of any decency can do other than oppose this sort of 
inhumanity, and all join in a statement of hope for a world free of 
genocide and ethnic conflict.
  I have the great privilege to represent a large and active Armenian 
population, many of whom have parents and grandparents who were amongst 
the persecuted religious, political, and intellectual leaders in the 
turn of the century Armenia.
  Today's Michigan community of Armenians follow the great tradition of 
doing much to further the commercial, political, and intellectual 
growth of Michigan and of the country. It is my hope that today's 
effort to honor the victims and the survivors of this genocide will 
educate all of us, will educate our neighbors country men and all of 
the world's people so that peace remains a priority of this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the 81st anniversary of the Armenian genocide. 
We look back to honor those who have died, but we also look forward and 
say, ``Never again.''

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