[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1052-E1053]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

                                 ______


                               speech of

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3540) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1997, and for other purposes:

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for 
amendments adopted by the House last week to H.R. 3540, the foreign 
operations appropriations bill for fiscal year 1997.
  In the early years of this century, the Armenian people suffered 
horrible atrocities at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. The diplomatic 
record, from our own diplomats and from those of other countries, shows 
an orchestrated effort to rid Turkey of Armenians. It is time that the 
Turkish Government recognize the Armenian genocide and honor the 
victims in an appropriate manner.
  The House has spoken twice this past week on Armenian issues. The 
first time was to amend the Humanitarian Corridors Act to remove the 
President's authority to waive the

[[Page E1053]]

provisions of the act which deny aid to a country blocking humanitarian 
assistance to a third country. Turkey has been blocking such assistance 
to Armenia but the President choose to waive the applicable provisions 
of the Humanitarian Corridors Act. The House has responded by 
overwhelmingly adopting an amendment denying the President future use 
of this authority.
  The House also spoke resoundingly when it adopted an amendment 
cutting by $3 million the economic support funds Turkey receives until 
the Government of Turkey acknowledges the atrocity committee against 
the Armenians and takes appropriate steps to honor the memory of the 
victims of the Armenian genocide.
  Mr. Chairman, these amendments will send a strong message to the 
Turkish Government that the United States expects the victims of the 
Armenian genocide to be recognized and that silence in the face of such 
atrocities is unacceptable.

                          ____________________