[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 24, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4088-S4089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      COMMEMORATING THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

 Mr. PELL. Mr. President, each year on this day, we solemnly 
join Armenians worldwide in observing the anniversary of the genocide 
perpetrated against the Armenian people between 1915 and 1923.
  Eighty-one years ago today, Ottoman leaders launched a systematic 
campaign to eradicate the Armenian people from Ottoman Empire 
territory. In that year, hundreds of Armenian religious, political, and 
intellectual leaders were rounded up and exiled, or murdered. During 
the next 8 years, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were executed. 
Many were raped, tortured, or enslaved. In addition to those killed, an 
estimated 500,000 Armenians were exiled from the Ottoman Empire. Many 
of those exiles found their way to freedom in the United States where 
they and their descendants have made--and are continuing to make--a 
significant contribution to the cultural, political, and commercial 
life of this country.
  Despite the many challenges they have faced over the years, the 
Armenian people have demonstrated a high degree of independence, 
resilience, and national pride. I believe the anniversary of the 
genocide offers an opportunity to reflect upon the challenges Armenia 
is facing today. In particular, Armenia continues to struggle under 
blockades by its neighbors, and as a result, it continues to depend 
heavily on humanitarian assistance. I would note that the United States 
has responded to Armenia's plight. Armenia receives more assistance per 
capita than any other Newly Independent State. I know we all look 
forward to the day when Armenia--a country of great human resources--
will be a donor, rather than a recipient of assistance.
  In fact, despite the blockades, Armenia has made significant economic

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progress during the past year. Its currency has stabilized, inflation 
has decreased, and the economy showed a positive growth rate. Armenia 
is also working hard to enact the necessary legal and regulatory 
framework for true reform to take root.
  Regrettably, a lasting diplomatic settlement to the Nagorno-Karabagh 
crisis also remains elusive. I hope that the memory of the Armenian 
genocide, as well as the continuing of the suffering of the Armenian 
and Azeri peoples, will spur a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
  There are, in fact, some hopeful signs. For the past 2-years, a 
cease-fire has held in Nagorno-Karabagh. Over the weekend, President 
Ter Petrosian of Armenia and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan issued a 
joint communique agreeing that direct dialog between the parties must 
be intensified to facilitate an end to the conflict.
  Armenia is continuing to talk with its neighbors not only about how 
to resolve the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, but about the importance of 
economic development of the region. In fact, just this week in 
Luxembourg, the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia each signed 
bilateral cooperation agreements with the European Union.
  I would note that Armenia is also engaging in a dialog with Turkey 
about a range of bilateral and regional issues. This is a courageous, 
and very practical, decision. Both countries acknowledge that it is in 
their interest to talk, and I believe that we should do what we can to 
encourage such discussions between Yerevan and Ankara.
  Sadly, the legacy of the Armenian genocide has not succeeded in 
deterring subsequent acts of genocide in other parts of the world nor 
did it represent an end to the suffering of the Armenian people. 
However, it is only by continuing to remember and discuss the horrors 
which befell the Armenian and other peoples that we can hope to achieve 
a world where genocide is finally relegated to the realm of history 
books, rather the newspaper headlines.
  I hope my colleagues and leaders throughout the world will join me in 
commemorating the anniversary today, and thus ensure that the tragedy 
of the Armenian genocide will not be forgotten.

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