[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H10772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page H10772]]



 IN HONOR OF THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC 
                               OF ARMENIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the fifth 
anniversary of the independence of the Armenian Republic, which was 
celebrated this past Saturday, September 21.
  Madam Speaker, the story of the Armenian people, one of the world's 
most ancient and enduring cultures, is an inspiring saga of courage, 
devotion to family and nation, and, most dramatically, the triumph over 
adversity and tragedy. Earlier in this century, in one of history's 
most horrible crimes against humanity, 1.5 million Armenian men, women, 
and children were slaughtered by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Every 
April, Members of this House join in commemoration of the Armenian 
genocide. We can never relent, and we will not relent, in out efforts 
to remind the world that this tragedy is a historic fact--despite the 
efforts of so-called revisionists to deny the truth--and to make sure 
that our Nation, the world community, and especially the Turkish 
nation, come to terms with and appropriately commemorate this historic 
fact.
  But today, Madam Speaker, I want to talk about a much more joyous 
occasion in the great history of the Armenian people. The collapse of 
the Soviet Union in 1991 allowed the Armenian people to finally achieve 
a true sense of nationhood, to create a society where their language, 
culture, religion, and other institutions would be able to prosper. The 
progress made in 5 short years by the Republic of Armenia has been an 
inspiration--not only for the sons and daughters of the Diaspora, but 
for all Americans who support the cause of freedom. Having survived the 
genocide, and living for decades under the yoke of the Soviet Union, 
the brave people of Armenia have endeavored to build a free and proud 
nation, based on the principles of democracy and a market economy.
  Madam Speaker, as they have for so much of their history, the 
Armenian people have accomplished all this against daunting odds. The 
tiny, land-locked Republic of Armenia is surrounded by hostile 
neighbors who have imposed blockades that have halted the delivery of 
basic necessities. Yet, independent Armenia continues to persevere and 
even prosper. While democracy has proven to be elusive in much of the 
former Soviet bloc, democratic Armenia held parliamentary elections 
last year and will hold nationwide presidential elections later this 
year.
  As the founder and cochairman, with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
Porter], of the Congressional Caucus on Armenia Issues, I consider 
United States-Armenia relations to be one of our key foreign policy 
objectives. Support for Armenia is in our practical interests, helping 
to support a stable nation in a strategically important and often 
unstable part of the world. Standing by Armenia is also consistent with 
America's calling to support democracy and human rights, and to defend 
free peoples throughout the world. In the ongoing debate over the 
foreign operations bill for fiscal year 1997, congressional friends of 
Armenia are working, on a bipartisan basis, to provide humanitarian and 
development aid for Armenia while trying to limit assistance to Turkey 
and block any funds from going to Azerbaijan until those countries lift 
their blockades of Armenia.
  Madam Speaker, I want to emphasize that the people of Armenia want 
good relations with their neighbors and the entire would community, and 
I believe the moral, political and economic power of the United States 
can go a long way toward helping Armenia achieve that goal.
  Madam Speaker, the Republic of Armenia--and friends of Armenia here 
in the United States--have had much to celebrate recently. Earlier this 
year, a beautiful new embassy building was opened. It was a great honor 
and privilege for me to be there for the dedication ceremony, joined by 
colleagues from this House and the Senate, Armenian political and 
religious leaders, and members of the community to help inaugurate a 
real, functioning Embassy, located in the very heart of the Embassy Row 
area, side by side with many of the world's other great nations. The 
existence of this Embassy is a tribute to the efforts and dedication of 
the Armenian-American community--just as the very existence to the 
Republic of Armenia as an independent nation and state is a triumph of 
the indomitable will of the people of Armenia to overcome every 
imaginable obstacle and disadvantage to create a new democracy from one 
of the world's most ancient nations.
  Madam Speaker, I hope that by the time we mark the 10th anniversary 
of the Republic of Armenia, we can look back with pride on building 
peace in prosperity in the entire Transcaucasus region, so that the 
people of Armenia and their neighbors can enjoy a stable, hopeful 
future. I hope that the Republics of Turkey and Azerbaijan will have 
responded positively to Armenia's offer to normalize relations, 
exchanging diplomats, and allowing the free flow of goods and people 
across their borders. I hope that, with the active participation of the 
United States, we will have resolved the question of Nagorno-Karabagh, 
the Armenian enclave located within Azeri borders, to guarantee the 
security and self-determination of the people of Karabagh. I hope that 
the effort to tap the vast Caspian Sea oil reserves will finally 
culminate in the construction of a pipeline carrying the oil west to 
Mediterranean ports through Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey--thereby 
further linking those neighbors in mutually beneficial security and 
economic ties.
  While I prefer to stress the positive, in the real world of 1996 I 
will work with my fellow supporters of Armenia to make sure that turkey 
and Azerbaijan are not rewarded for their intransigence towards their 
neighbor Armenia. We must continue to enforce section 907, banning 
direct United States Government aid to Azerbaijan, until that country 
lifts its blockade of Armenia. We must continue to enforce the 
Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, which would cut off aid to Turkey for 
its blockade of Armenia. We must guard against any tilt by this 
administration, or any future administration, toward the Turkish and 
Azeri sides.
  Madam Speaker, this anniversary is being marked by a series of 
events. Last weekend, the Armenian National Committee of America's New 
Jersey and New York chapters held a series of events the greater New 
York area, including a concert and a picnic. On Saturday, September 21, 
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America held a formal banquet and 
a cultural program in New York. Tonight, Tuesday, September 24, the 
Armenian Assembly of America, in conjunction with the Congressional 
Causus on Armenian Issues, will hold a reception over in the Senate. 
And on Friday, the Ambassador of Armenia to the United States, His 
Excellency Mr. Rouben Shaugarian, will host a reception at the Embassy.
  Madam Speaker, I hope to see some of my colleagues at these upcoming 
events, whether they have been a long-standing friend of Armenia or are 
merely interested in learning about his new--and yet most ancient--
country. It is an honor for me to pay tribute to the fifth anniversary 
of Armenia's Independence, and I look forward to commemorating many 
more anniversaries in the future.

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