[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3793]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COMMEMORATION OF THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Woolsey] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today is the sad and solemn day when 
annually we remember one of the great tragedies of humankind. Today 
marks the 81st anniversary of the Armenian genocide, the first genocide 
of the 20th century.
  I have come to the floor of the House today to acknowledge the 
atrocities suffered by the Armenian people at the hands of the Ottoman 
Turks. On April 23, 1915, over 200 Armenian religious, political and 
intellectual leaders were massacred in Turkey. Little did anyone know 
that April 23, 1915, would signify the beginning of a Turkish campaign 
to remove the Armenian people from the face of the earth.
  Over the following 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians perished, and more 
than 500,000 were exiled from their homes. Armenian civilization, one 
of the oldest civilizations, virtually ceased to exist, which, of 
course, was the Turkish plan.
  But despite the brutality, Armenian civilization lives on today. It 
lives on in the new independent republic of Armenia, and it lives on in 
communities throughout America, particularly in my home State of 
California.
  Today we honor the innocent Armenians who barely got a chance to see 
the 20th century. Today we acknowledge that the Ottoman Turks committed 
genocide against the Armenian people and we demand that his undeniable 
fact be acknowledged by the current leaders in Istanbul.
  I look forward to the day when the world says in one united voice, 
``We remember the Armenian genocide.'' Until that date comes, Mr. 
Speaker, I will continue to stand up with my colleagues to remind the 
House of Representatives of our responsibility to remember and of our 
responsibility to speak out against any genocide, past or present.

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