[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9803-S9804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMMEMORATING THE INDEPENDENCE OF ARMENIA

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the sixth 
anniversary of Armenian Independence.
  With the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenians were quickly faced with 
the possibility of realizing a vision which they had long sought--
independence. On September 21, 1991, Armenia held a referendum to 
decide its future. More than 94 percent of Armenia's eligible voters 
turned out to support independence. Two days later, on September 23, 
the Armenian Parliament made the people's desire official when it 
declared Armenia's independence from the Soviet Union.
  The historic vote for independence on September 21, 1991, has far 
greater significance when examined in light of Armenia's modern 
history. Throughout the last century, the Armenian people have 
experienced incredible hardship and tragedy in their efforts to rule 
themselves. Armenia began the 20th century under the control of the 
Ottoman Turks. Ottoman Turk rule turned savage at the beginning of 
World War I when it waged a government-organized genocide on the 
Armenians. During the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, 1.5 million people 
perished as the Ottoman Turks tried to permanently silence Armenian 
calls for independence.
  Following the defeat of the Ottoman Turks in World War I, Armenians 
were able to briefly fulfill their wishes of independence. On May 28, 
1918, the Republic of Armenia was established.

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 However, this independence was short-lived as the Republic of Armenia 
soon collapsed because of renewed Turkish and Soviet pressure. On 
November 29, 1920, Armenia was declared a Soviet republic and spent the 
next 71 years under Soviet rule. With the fall of the Soviet Union in 
1991, Armenia was finally able to fulfill its goal of self-
determination.
  Today, September 23, Armenia celebrates the sixth anniversary of its 
independence. I know that the many Armenian-Americans in Michigan and 
the United States join in this celebration. The support Armenian-
Americans have given to their homeland has been indispensable as 
Armenia emerges from many years of Soviet domination. I applaud their 
efforts and the efforts of the Armenian people to build an independent 
and democratic Armenia.

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