[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING THE GENOCIDE OF THE ARMENIANS

                                 ______


                               speech of

                        HON. CARLOS J. MOORHEAD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 1996

  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank the gentleman 
from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] for arranging this special order today. 
His support of the Armenian community has been, and continues to be 
tremendous.
  Today we mark the 81st anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian 
genocide. On this date in 1915 hundreds of Armenian political and 
intellectual leaders were rounded up, exiled, and eventually murdered 
in remote places. In the ensuing 8 years, over 1.5 million men, women, 
and children were slaughtered in an attempted genocide of the Armenian 
people by the Government of the Ottoman Empire. This was a crime not 
just against the Armenian people. It was a crime against humanity. We 
must never forget this tragedy of unimaginable proportions.
  I have friends who were present during that time. One friend of mine 
was turned over to a Turkish family by his own mother and father. He 
then had to endure watching the systematic murder of every single 
member of his family as well as the killing of many from his community. 
These kinds of unspeakable atrocities were commonplace in Armenia 
between 1915 and 1923.
  A strong, resilient people, the Armenians survived these cruelties as 
they have survived persecution for centuries. Their descendants now 
include over 1 million Americans for whom marking this day is not only 
a way to remember those who perished, but a way to remind mankind that 
we must all come together in pursuit of a common goal: to see to it 
that slaughter of this size and scope has no chance of ever happening 
again.
  Unfortunately, brutality against Armenians continues to this day. The 
current conflict with Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabagh region has 
once again brought suffering to the Armenian people. It is my sincere 
hope that the U.S. Government will do whatever it can to aid in the 
reaching of peace. Karabagh Armenians currently under the rule of the 
Azerbaijiani Government must have their rights protected.
  Today in America, Armenians flourish in the United States as 
prominent citizens and community leaders despite the pain they and 
their ancestors have endured. Many survivors of the genocide now live 
in my district. In fact, in my district, I have the greatest 
concentration of Armenians outside of Armenia. Armenians serve proudly 
and with great distinction as mayors, and members of local councils and 
school boards.
  It is with great pride that I have had the chance to serve the 
Armenian citizenry of my district. On this, my last opportunity as a 
Member of Congress to observe this day, I wish to thank the Armenian 
community for its support.

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