[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2205-H2212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as my colleagues and I do 
every time at this time of year, I should say, in what has become one 
of the proudest traditions in this House and that is to remember and 
pay tribute to the victims of one of history's worst crimes against 
humanity, the Armenian genocide of 1915 through 1923.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I know there are a number of Members who 
would like to participate in the special orders tonight on this 
subject, and I would ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the topic of my 
special order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the Armenian genocide, 
we are describing one of the most horrible events of the 20th century 
and in all of human history. Yet many, perhaps most, Americans and most 
people around the world are barely aware of this extremely significant 
historical event. There are those who even try to deny that the 
genocide ever happened. But it did happen.
  The Armenian genocide was the systematic extermination of 1\1/2\ 
million Armenian men, women, and children during the final years of the 
Ottoman-Turkish empire. This was the first genocide of the 20th 
century, a precursor to the Nazi Holocaust and other cases of ethic 
cleansing and mass exterminations which are still all too common around 
the world.
  Friday, April 24, marks the 83rd anniversary of the unleashing of the 
Armenian genocide. This evening, here in the Capitol building, the 
Armenian National Committee of America is sponsoring a ceremony and 
reception of remembrance for the genocide; and the ANC and the Armenian 
Assembly have both been at the forefront for calling for recognition of 
the genocide, not just for the people of Armenian descent who have 
heard the history from their parents or grandparents but for all of us 
as an active education and witness about the evils of genocide and the 
danger of forgetting.
  Yet, Mr. Speaker, I regret to say that the United States still does 
not officially recognize the Armenian genocide. Bowing to strong 
pressure from Turkey, the U.S. State Department has for more than 15 
years shied away from referring to the tragic events of 1915 to 1923 by 
the word ``genocide.''
  President Clinton and his recent predecessors have annually issued 
proclamations on the anniversary of the genocide expressing sorrow for 
the massacres and solidarity with the victims but always stopping short 
of using the word ``genocide,'' thus minimizing and not accurately 
conveying what really happened beginning 83 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States should go on record clearly and 
unambiguously recognizing the Armenian genocide and setting aside April 
24 as a day of remembrance. To that end, I urge renewed efforts to, on 
the part of Congress, to pass a resolution that puts the United States 
firmly on record on the side of truth. We will also keep up the 
pressure on the President to call the genocide by its proper name.
  And what is almost as appalling as the act of genocide itself is the 
fact that the Republic of Turkey simply goes on denying that the 
genocide ever took place. Indeed, Turkey has mounted an aggressive 
effort to try to present an alternative and false version of history, 
using its extensive financial and lobbying resources in this country.
  The Turkish Government has embarked on a strategy of endowing Turkish 
study programs at various universities around the United States. And 
while Turkish and Ottoman studies are cleared worthy of academic 
interest, the Turkish Government is attaching conditions to these funds 
that make it clear that the program will be carried out under the 
watchful eyes of the Turkish Government and other pro-Turkish elements. 
One of the major goals of this propaganda effort is to minimize, 
distort, and outright deny the facts of the Armenian genocide.
  Mr. Speaker, adding insult to injury, the Republic of Azerbaijan has 
mounted an effort to try to accuse Armenians of committing genocide 
against the people of Azerbaijan, in many cases directly mimicking 
Armenian statements and simply turning them around against the 
Armenians.
  Recently, the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations circulated a 
booklet to congressional offices denying the Armenian genocide and 
fabricating a wide range of half-truths, slanders, and lies against the 
Armenian people. But these denials fly in the face of the preponderance 
of evidence.
  The U.S. National Archives holds the most comprehensive documentation 
in the world on this historical tragedy. Formal protests were made at 
the time by the U.S. Ambassador, and Congress approved of allowing a 
private relief agency to raise funds in the United States. American 
consular officials and private aide workers secretly housed Armenians 
at great personal risks to themselves and in direct defiance of Turkish 
orders not to help the Armenians.
  Mr. Speaker, I know many of my other colleagues would like to address 
this subject tonight, and I would like to say that the Armenian 
genocide is a very painful subject to discuss, yet we must never forget 
what happened and never cease speaking out. We must overcome the 
denials and indifference and keep alive the memory and the truth of 
what happened.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I want to thank 
the gentleman for his remarks and associate myself with them.
  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in 
remembering the Armenian people who lost their lives in one of 
history's

[[Page H2206]]

greatest atrocities, the Armenian genocide.
  Mr. Speaker, on April 24, 1915, Turkish officials arrested and exiled 
more than 200 Armenian political, intellectual and religious leaders. 
This symbolic rounding up of Armenian leaders began a reign of terror 
against the Armenian people that lasted for the next eight years, and 
resulted in the death of more than 1.5 million Armenians. Acts of 
deportations, torture, enslavement and mass executions obliterated the 
Armenian population and changed the world forever. These mass 
exterminations and incidents of ethnic cleansing are the first examples 
of genocide in this century, and have often been referred to as the 
precursor to the Nazi Holocaust.
  It is most important that we remember the Armenian people and 
recognize the Armenian Genocide so that we never again see such a 
heinous disregard for human life. The memory of this event, no matter 
how cruel and brutal, must serve as a lesson to us all to never ignore 
such actions. We owe that to the Armenian people who showed such 
bravery in a time of great pain and tragedy.
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, during the First World War, 
the Armenian people suffered greatly under the hands of Turkey, leading 
to what we now have come to call the Armenian Genocide.
  It was one of the first state ordered genocides of this century, and 
would later become one of the many genocides that have marred the 
recent history of our World.
  During the First World War, the willingness of the Armenians to serve 
in the Allied forces, was seen as a threat to the Turkish government. 
The Turks ordered a mass deportation of almost the entire Armenian 
population from their homeland to two provinces of the Turkish Empire.
  More than one million Armenians died during this long forced march, 
many from disease and malnutrition.
  Once a year, we pay tribute to those who survived and we honor the 
memory of those who perished in the genocide. Nearly 1.5 million 
persons were killed and another half million were deported from their 
home country.
  Unfortunately, the atrocities of the past have been replayed in the 
Holocaust of World War II, Combodia, Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and 
many other places world wide where leaders have turned their backs on 
human rights and human suffering.
  The crime of genocide must never again be allowed a part of our 
lives, and today we stand with our Armenian friends, to remember and 
share in their grief, and to make a commitment to prevent such acts in 
the future.
  We must work to remember and never forget the genocide, and to fight 
for peace in this region and worldwide.
  I will be going to Armenia in May, and look forward to meeting with 
Armenians on the ongoing issues that they have with Turkey and an 
overview of the history that they have endured.
  I am proud to join Armenians around the world as we remember the 
terrible massacres suffered in 1915-23.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, together with my colleagues, 
to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. This is an episode 
of human history so dark, and so repulsive to our sense of decency and 
morality, that it deserves our special attention. In the eight years of 
the genocide, more than 1.5 million Armenians of the Ottoman Empire 
were systematically slaughtered. Their property was confiscated, and 
many were forced on long marches, often without food and water, during 
which thousands of victims died. Others were forced into slave labor, 
while many were simply tortured and executed. These atrocious acts 
comprised the first instance of genocide in the twentieth century--and 
tragically it was not the last systematic attempt to destroy an entire 
race of people.
  It is of the utmost importance that we not allow this tragedy to 
lapse from our memory. Equally important is that we should not by means 
of obfuscation and equivocation attempt to deny these horrifying 
events. It has been said that denial of genocide is the final state of 
genocide: by attempting to erase the memory of the act and trivialize 
the suffering of its victims it destroys the dignity of all those who 
died.
  I therefore call on the Turkish government to right a wrong and 
recognize the occurrence of the Armenian Genocide. In this way, we can 
finally come to terms with this tragedy, not as Turks or Armenians or 
members of any particular ethnic group, but as human beings. For it is 
only after we have acknowledged the evils of which humankind is 
capable, that we can prevent these evils from occurring again.
  Many are aware of the remark made by Adolph Hitler as he was planning 
the ``final solution'' for the ``Jewish problem'' that ``who, after 
all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?'' The fact that 
he could take comfort in our collective amnesia only proves the need to 
remember these atrocities. I am honored to be joining with all those 
who are commemorating the Armenian Genocide today throughout the world, 
and I thank my colleagues, Congressmen John Porter and Frank Pallone, 
for helping to keep Members of the House focused on this very important 
issue. I implore everyone, young and old, to heed well the all-
important phrase: ``We must never forget!''
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Pallone and Mr. Porter for their 
leadership in bringing us together to remember a time in world history 
when the Armenian people were singled out for a brutal attack on their 
very existence, an attack that would come to be known as the Armenian 
Genocide. On April 24, 1915, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire set out 
to annihilate the Armenian minority. Over the course of the next eight 
years, the Turkish government systematically murdered 1.5 million 
Armenians and deported 500,000. By the end of 1923, the entire Armenian 
population of Anatolia and Western Armenia was either murdered or 
deported.
  This anniversary serves to remind us of the importance of vigilance 
against oppression and acts of violence against the rights of ethnic 
minorities around the world. In my home state of California, the story 
of the Armenian Genocide is included in the social studies curriculum 
as mandated by the State Board of Education in 1987. Similar curricula 
on human rights and genocide exist in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut 
and Massachusetts.
  And while a growing number of Americans come to understand the horror 
of this episode in history, the perpetrators continue their denial. 
Just last year, Turkey attempted to endow a chair on Turkish and 
Ottoman history at UCLA. School officials were forced to temper their 
initial enthusiasm when concerns were raised that this effort was a 
stab at historical revisionism.
  Turkey continues to violate the human rights of the Kurdish minority, 
at times in ways that are reminiscent of its historical treatment of 
the Armenians and Greeks. The Turkish government has failed to ensure 
the safety of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the seat of the Orthodox 
Church in Istanbul. In Cyprus, the Turkish army enforces a partition of 
the island that has been universally denounced since it invaded in 
1974. This consistent and constant disregard of international 
convention is a hallmark of a nation that ignores the obvious lessons 
from its own history.
  Despite the near obliteration of their ancient culture, the Armenian 
people have survived. Throughout the world they have made enormous 
cultural and economic contributions to the communities in their adopted 
homelands. Recently, Armenia held presidential elections, and while 
there were some problems, this fragile democracy continues to move 
forward. I congratulate the Armenian people for their resilience. Their 
triumph over adversity is a story from which we all draw strength.


                   ARMENIAN GENOCIDE--83D ANNIVERSARY

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the 
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, and the representative of a 
large and vibrant community of Armenian-Americans, I rise today to join 
my colleagues in the sad commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
  First, I would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Pallone) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter), cochairs of the 
caucus, for all of their hard work on this issue and other issues of 
human rights.
  April 24, 1998 marks the 83d anniversary of the beginning of the 
Armenian genocide. It was on that day in 1915 that over 200 Armenian 
religious, political, and intellectual leaders were arrested and 
subsequently murdered in central Turkey.
  This date marks the beginning of an organized campaign by the ``Young 
Turk'' government to eliminate the Armenians from the Ottoman Empire.
  Over the next 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians died at the hands of the 
Turks, and a half million more were departed.
  As the United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry 
Mrogenthau, Sr., has written: ``When the Turkish authorities gave the 
orders for these deportations, they were merely giving the death 
warrant to a whole race. They understood this well and made no 
particular attempt to conceal the fact.''
  As a supporter of human rights, I am dismayed that the Turkish 
government is still refusing to acknowledge what happened and instead 
is attempting to rewrite history.
  In a sense, even more appalling than Turkey's denial is the 
willingness of some officials in our own government to join in 
rewriting the history of the Armenian Genocide. It is vital that we do 
not let political agendas get in the way of doing the right thing.
  Mr. Speaker, the issues surrounding the Armenian genocide should not 
go unresolved. I call upon the United States Government to demand 
complete accountability by the Turkish

[[Page H2207]]

Government for the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. To heal the wounds 
of the past, the Turkish government must first recognize the 
responsibility of its country's leaders at that time for this 
catastrophe.
  Nothing we can do or say will bring those who perished back to life, 
but we can imbue their memories with everlasting meaning by teaching 
the lessons of the Armenian genocide to future generations.
  The noted philosopher, George Santayana, has taught us that ``those 
who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'' We should 
heed this wise principle and do all we can to ensure that the martyrdom 
of the Armenian people is not forgotten.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today, I join voices with my colleagues in 
Congress and Armenians all over the world as we commemorate the 83d 
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
  Between 1894 and 1923, approximately two million Armenians were 
massacred, persecuted, or exiled by the Ottoman Empire. Today, fewer 
than 80,000 declared Armenians remain in Turkey. The Eastern provinces, 
the Armenian heartland, are virtually without Armenians.
  The years since the Armenian Genocide have magnified its tragedy, not 
diminished it. It is true for the hundreds of thousands who lost their 
lives as well as their families for whom the void can never be filled.
  It also has been true for all the world. The Holocaust of the 1930's 
and 1940's has been followed by a number of genocides in the last three 
decades. The failure of the Turkish government to acknowledge the 
sinful acts of its predecessors sent the wrong message to the rulers of 
Cambodia, Rwanda and Bosnia. The failure of countries of the world to 
take prompt notice of these modern atrocities should remind all of us 
of the failure of other nations to promptly acknowledge the massacre of 
Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
  In a word, it is the duty of all Armenians to join Armenian-Americans 
in remembering the Armenian genocide. We have been fighting this battle 
for formal acknowledgement by the Turkish government for many years. We 
must not give in until the battle is won.
  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, each year, for the past six or seven years 
of my memory, my colleagues, Mr. Pallone and Mr. Porter, have organized 
this special congressional opportunity for this body to pause to honor 
the memory of the 1\1/2\ million Armenians who were killed between 1915 
and 1923 by agents of the Turkish Ottoman Empire in what is known in 
infamy as the Armenian Genocide. In essence, we retell a story of a 
moment in history, an even which began some 83 years ago. I have 
noticed that each year, I find myself using the same words to tell this 
story, and I realize that this process of retelling the facts of 
genocide, committed against the people of Armenia is in itself a very 
important event. For in retelling this story of the horror which was 
perpetuated, we remember to be vigilant against the planting of the 
seeds of future atrocities.
  I would like to add that my district, the 34th Congressional district 
of California, has what I believe is the only monument in the United 
States which commemorates and records the Genocide against the Armenian 
people. The citizens of the 34th Congressional district have strong 
feelings about today's commemoration, and on their behalf I am here 
today to share with you this retelling of an old an difficult story.
  Some would claim that our remembrance today fans the flames of 
atavistic hatred and that this issue of the Ottoman government's 
efforts to destroy the Armenian people is a matter best left to 
scholars and historians. I do not agree. One fact remains undeniable: 
the death and suffering of Armenians on a massive scale happened, and 
is deserving of recognition and remembrance.
  This solemn occasion permits us to join in remembrance with the many 
Americans of Armenian ancestry, to remind this country of the tragic 
price paid by the Armenian community for its long pursuit of life, 
liberty and freedom.
  Today, I rise, with my Colleagues to recall and remember one of the 
most tragic events in history and through this act of remembrance, to 
make public and vivid the memory of the ultimate price paid by the 
Armenian community by this blot against human civility.
  We come together each year with this act of commemoration, this year 
being the 83rd anniversary of this genocide, to tell the stories of 
this atrocity so that we will not sink into ignorance of our capacity 
to taint human progress with acts of mass under.
  The Armenian genocide was a deliberate act to kill, or deport, all 
Armenians from Asia Minor, and takes its place in history with other 
acts of genocide such as Stalin's destruction of the Kulaks, Hilter's 
calculated wrath on the Jews, Poles, and Romany Gypsy community in 
Central Europe, and Pol Pot's attempt to purge incorrect political 
thought from Cambodia by killing all of his people over the age of 
fifteen, and more recently, the ethnic cleansing atrocities in Bosnia 
and Rwanda.
  We do not have the ability to go back and correct acts of a previous 
time, or to right the wrongs of the past. If we had this capacity, 
perhaps we could have prevented the murders of millions of men, women 
and children.
  We can, however, do everything in our power to prevent such 
atrocities from occurring again. To do this, we must educate people 
about these horrible incidents, comfort the survivors and keep alive 
the memories of those who died. I encourage everyone to use this moment 
to think about the tragedy which was the Armenian Genocide, to 
contemplate the massive loss of lives, and to ponder the loss of the 
human contributions which might have been.
  Although the massacre we depict and describe started 83 years ago, 
the Armenian people continue to fight for their freedom and 
independence today, in Nagorno Karabakh. Again, this year, I would like 
to close my remarks with an urgent plea that we use this moment as an 
occasion to recommit ourselves to the spirit of human understanding, 
compassion, patience, and love.
  For these alone are the tools for overcoming our tragic, and uniquely 
human proclivity for resolving differences and conflicts by acts of 
violence.
  This century has been characterized as one of the bloodiest in our 
archives of human history. Certainly, the genocide perpetuated against 
the Armenian people has been a factor in this dismal record.
  The dawning of a new millennium offers our human race two paths. One 
continues along a road of destruction, distrust, and despair. Those who 
travel this path have lost their connection to the primal directives, 
which permit us as a society to maintain balance, continuity, and 
harmony. I would ask my colleagues, on this 83d anniversary of one of 
history's bloodiest massacres of human beings--and during a time in 
history when violent solutions to problems between peoples continue to 
hold sway--to contemplate the second path. The map to this path exists 
within the guiding teachings of all major world religions and are 
encapsulated in what Christians refer to as the 10 Commandments. I 
would ask my colleagues, no matter their religious or political 
persuasions and beliefs, to revisit these core teachings which form a 
common bond between all peoples. To use these common beliefs as the 
basis for action and understanding in these trying times. The surface 
differences between peoples, offer only an exciting diversity in form. 
At the core all peoples are united by common dreams, aspirations, and 
beliefs in a desire for harmony, decency, and peace with justice.
  Let these testimonies of the atrocities perpetuated against the 
Armenian people serve as a reminder that as a human race we can, and 
must, do better. It takes strength and wisdom to understand that the 
sword of compassion is indeed mightier than the sword of steel.
  Certainly, as we reflect over the conflicts of this closing century, 
we can only come to the conclusion that violence begets violence, 
hatred begets hatred and that only understanding patience, compassion, 
and love can open the door to the realization of the dreams which we 
all hold for our children and for their children.
  Let our statements today, remembering and openly condemning the 
atrocity committed against the Armenians, help renew a commitment of 
the American people to oppose any and all instances of genocide. As we 
enter the new millennium let us commit ourselves to finding new and 
peaceful paths for resolving differences which inevitably arise.
  I thank my colleagues for permitting me the honor of sharing these 
thoughts and words with you today.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, tonight we gather to commemorate those who 
lost their homes, loved ones, and lives in the Armenian Genocide at the 
beginning of this century.
  I am the only Member of Congress of Armenian descent. Every other day 
of the year, my heritage is a source of honor for me because not only 
do I represent a congressional district, but I also represent a 
community of people who have made tremendous contributions to the 
world. However, tonight being Armenian carries with it an obligation to 
bear witness * * * to remember what began in 1915 * * * to remember 
what happened to my family and over a million other Armenians when the 
Ottoman Empire forgot its humanity and set out on a path of 
destruction.
  We gather here to remember the first genocide of this century so we 
don't forget that it was not an isolated incident. The Armenians were 
followed by the victims of Stalin's purges, the German Holocaust, 
Cambodia's Killing Fields, the ``ethnic cleansing'' of Bosnia, and the 
tragedy of the Great Lakes region in Africa.

[[Page H2208]]

  Despite these examples we still do not understand why one day a 
community can be living peaceably among another, and the next they are 
singled out, rounded up, imprisoned and eventually killed. We may not 
understand why the Ottoman Empire decided to kill the Armenians, but we 
do know that it did happen and that it was, without question, morally 
wrong. Despite continued attempts to downplay or deny the scale of the 
tragedy, the forced removal of a half a million people, and the 
massacre of 1.5 million more has no other name but genocide.
  This past year several books written by members of the Armenian 
diaspora have been published, and in conclusion, I would like to quote 
from one of these books, ``Black Dog of Fate,'' by Peter Balakian. He 
writes the following:

       Commemoration is an essential process for the bereaved and 
     for the inheritors of the legacy of genocide. It is a process 
     of making meaning out of the unthinkable horror and loss. 
     Because the dead have not been literally or emotionally 
     buried in the wake of genocide, commemoration is also a 
     ritual of burying the dead--that first act of civilization. 
     Because genocide seeks to negate all meaning, to unmake the 
     world, the survivors and their children must find a way back 
     to civilization. Commemoration, then publicly legitimizes the 
     victim culture's grief. The burden of bereavement can be 
     alleviated if shared and witnessed by a larger community. 
     Only then can redemption, hope and community be achieved.

  I thank Representatives Pallone and Porter for organizing tonight's 
remembrance. You help to provide a larger community, where Armenians 
can share and witness, and give hope for redemption.
  Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the 83rd 
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. On April 24, 1915, over 200 
Armenian religious and political leaders were taken to Turkey and 
systematically executed. The years that followed brought further 
persecution upon the Armenian people. It is important to recognize the 
horror of the Armenian genocide as it is a lesson for all time. 
Recognition and education are the best tools available to help us learn 
from the mistakes of the past and insure human dignity for people 
worldwide. As we remember the persecution that the Armenians endured, 
we as Americans must not take for granted our freedom and security. We 
must always work to ensure human rights for all people.
  The atrocities that occurred in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 until 
1923 were more than a series of massacres in a time of instability, 
they foreshadowed the nightmare of the Nazi Holocaust and other cases 
of ethnic cleansing in the twentieth century. A failure to be honest 
with the past led to the terrors that followed later in the twentieth 
century. The Armenian people were driven from their homes and deprived 
of their freedom, their dignity and finally their lives. By 1923, 1.5 
million Armenians had died, and 500,000 more had been evicted from 
their homes at the hands of the Ottoman authorities. We look back with 
sadness at these tragic occurrences and mourn the tremendous losses of 
the Armenian people.
  To ignore the Armenian genocide and its impact on history would 
dishonor the victims of this tragedy. This was the first genocide of 
the twentieth century, and, sadly, it was not the last. On this, the 
83rd anniversary of the Armenian genocide we must not forget the 
victims and we must be prepared to prevent further crimes against 
humanity.
  Mr. GEJDENSON. On this day I stand with Armenians worldwide in 
remembering the anniversary of the genocide committed against the 
Armenian people between 1915 and 1923.
  Eighty-three years ago today, representatives of the Ottoman Empire 
arrested Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders. 
During the 8 years that followed, 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 deported from the 
Ottoman Empire. Thankfully, many of those exiles made their way to 
freedom in the United States where they and their descendants continue 
to make significant contributions to the cultural, political, and 
commercial fabric of the United States.
  Despite the formidable challenges they have faced over the years, the 
Armenian people have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Today's 
anniversary of the genocide affords us a chance to reflect upon the 
challenges Armenian faces today. While it continues to struggle under 
blockades imposed by its neighbors, Armenia continues to make economic 
progress and just concluded an improved democratic election. This 
continues the progress begun on September 21, 1991, when more than 94 
percent of Armenia's eligible voters turned out to vote in a referendum 
for Armenian independence. Two days later, the Armenian Parliament made 
the people's desire official when it declared Armenia's independence 
from the Soviet Union.
  There are two ways to fight to prevent genocide from occurring again. 
One way is to do what we can as a nation and as individuals to take 
notice, to condemn, and to intervene when necessary before those who 
would kill are emboldened. The second is to embrace the truth, to 
remember history, and to confront those who would otherwise ignore or 
distort the occurrence of genocide.
  My family history intertwines with the tragedy of the Armenia's past. 
My father's entire family was exterminated as was most of my mother's 
during the Holocaust. My father and mother escaped Hitler and Stalin 
and met in a displaced-persons camp in Germany after the war and took 
me and my sister away to peace and freedom in eastern Connecticut, 
which I now proudly represent in Congress.
  When Hitler proposed his extermination of the Jews, he heard some 
opposition in the room. He silenced his opposition by asking the 
question, ``Who remembers the Armenians?'' I stand today so that 
everyone remembers the Armenians and the Jews, so no one can commit the 
atrocities of the past again.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, today we remember the Armenian 
Genocide, and honor the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who died 
between 1915 and 1923.
  It has been 83 years since the Ottoman Empire began the systematic 
slaughter of Armenians living in Turkey. It started in 1915, when the 
Turkish government rounded up and killed Armenian soldiers. Then, on 
April 24, 1915, the government turned its attention to slaughtering 
Armenian intellectuals. They were killed because of their ethnicity, 
the first group in the 20th Century killed not for what they did, but 
for who they were.
  By the time the bloodshed of the genocide ended, the victims included 
the aged, women and children who had been forced from their homes and 
marched to relocation camps, beaten and brutalized along the way. In 
addition to the 1.5 million dead, over 500,000 Armenians were chased 
from their homeland.
  We take time every year to remember the victims of the Armenian 
genocide. We hope that, by remembering the bloodshed and atrocities 
committed against the Armenians, we can prevent this kind of tragedy 
from repeating itself. Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful. From 
Germany to Cambodia to Rwanda, the horrors of the genocide have 
repeated themselves.
  So, Mr. Speaker, we must continue to talk about the genocide. We must 
keep alive the memory of those who lost their lives during the eight 
years of bloodshed in Armenia. We must educate other nations who have 
not recognized that the Armenian genocide occurred. We must be vigilant 
and guard against this kind of wholesale slaughter from happening in 
the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Armenian-Americans--the survivors and their 
descendants--who continue to educate the world about the tragedy of the 
Armenian Genocide and make valuable contributions to our shared 
American culture. Because of their efforts, the world will not be 
allowed to forget the memory of the victims of the first 20th Century 
holocaust.
  Mr. WEYGAND. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Armenian community in 
Rhode Island, I would like to recognize and commemorate the observance 
of the 83rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a solemn, yet 
historically significant event.
  On April 24, 1915, 200 intellectuals, political and religious leaders 
from Constantinople were executed by Turkish officials. Over the next 8 
years, 1.5 million Armenians were driven from their homes, forced to 
endure death marches, starved, forced into slavery, deported, tortured 
and executed in mass numbers. The period of 1915-23 marks one of the 
darkest periods of modern times--the first example of genocide in the 
20th century.
  Today, we honor the victims, who suffered at the hands of the Ottoman 
Turks, and express our condolences to their descendants. The world has 
chosen to ignore this tragedy and because we must ensure that history 
does not repeat itself, we need to properly acknowledge the horrors of 
the Armenian Genocide.
  I join with my colleagues and the Armenian community to proclaim that 
the genocide did indeed happen, despite the protests from the Turkish 
Government. Unfortunately, we cannot change the past, but by honoring 
the victims of the Armenian Genocide and sharing the grief of their 
families, we can begin to heal the many wounds and work together to 
ensure that these injustices never occur again.
  Mr. McKeon. Mr. Speaker, I join many of my colleagues today in 
commemorating the 83rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. For many 
Armenians, April 24, 1915 signifies the beginning of the systematic and 
deliberate campaign of the Ottoman Empire to extinguish the Armenian 
population under their rule. On this day, Armenians from around the 
world will be joined by many others, not only to remember one of this 
century's worst tragedies, but to use it as a lesson for future 
generations to preserve human rights around the world.
  This somber occasion marks the anniversary of that day in 1915 when 
members of the

[[Page H2209]]

Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leadership were 
arrested and executed. This incident was not isolated and marked the 
beginning of a mass persecution of Armenian men, women, and children. 
At that time, the U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry 
Morgenthau, Sr., stated that ``When the Turkish authorities gave the 
orders for these deportations, they were giving the death warrant to a 
whole new race. The great massacres and persecutions of the past seem 
almost insignificant when compared to the sufferings of the Armenian 
race in 1915.''
  Tragically, from 1915 to 1923, 1.5 million Armenians were killed, 
with another 500,000 that were exiled from their homes. By the end of 
1923, the two million Armenians that had resided in Turkey were either 
killed or deported.
  Throughout my life I have had the privilege of becoming friends with 
a number of Armenians who have shared the tales of the horrible and 
inhumane experiences their relatives endured. As we reflect on this 
tragedy today, we will certainly remember those who suffered and pay 
tribute to the memory of the millions of Armenian victims.
  Today I ask my colleagues to condemn the atrocities committed against 
the Armenians and continue in our efforts to prevent similar tragedies 
from developing. We must recognize and openly acknowledge the 
atrocities committed against humanity before we are able to prevent 
them from happening again in the future. If we fail to speak out 
against such crimes, we are only ensuring that these atrocities will 
continue to occur as time goes on. That is a tragedy we cannot afford 
to risk.
  Thank you for allowing me to participate in this special tribute to 
the Armenian community. I am honored to be here.
  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the first of 
this century's many examples of man's inhumanity to man: the brutal 
suppression perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against 1.5 million 
Armenian men, women, and children at the beginning of this century. On 
April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested 200 political, religious, 
and intellectual leaders of the Armenian community of Constantinople. 
In the eight long years that followed, the Armenian population of Asia 
Minor was subjected to forced privation, deportation, torture, and 
death.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important to remember this event, just as it is 
important to remember the suffering of millions of other victims of 
hatred and violence. It is important to remember because by remembering 
we say no Holocaust, no ``ethnic cleansing,'' no mass extermination 
must ever happen again.
  No observer of the world scene today can ignore the long-lasting 
repercussions of such atrocities. In the Balkans and Central Asia, we 
see how memories of past injustice and mass human rights violations 
complicate the search for peace. In commemorating the Armenian Genocide 
today, we must renew our commitment to help prevent future ethnic and 
religious hatred.
  This day of remembrance also highlights the endurance and the spirit 
of the Armenian people. Many displaced Armenians joined the ranks of 
those who sought haven in our country. Many settled in my home State of 
California, where they achieved prosperity, contributed to civic life, 
and added to the cultural richness of our State. California today is 
home to the largest--and thriving--community of Armenian-Americans. 
Their success says to the tyrants and the perpetrators of mass 
persecution in the world that the human spirit cannot be suppressed.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues Mr. Pallone and Mr. Porter for 
organizing this special order, and join my colleagues here today, the 
Armenian-American community, and Americans across our country in 
commemorating the Armenian Genocide.
  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
remembering the 83rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. I want to 
thank my colleagues Congressmen Frank Pallone and John Porter for 
organizing this Special Order to commemorate the victims of one of the 
most tragic events in history.
  On this day in 1915, a group of distinguished Armenian leaders--
intellectual, political, and religious--were arrested and brutally 
murdered by the Ottoman Empire. This began a long and abysmal process 
by which 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives. A disgraceful and 
inhuman process which also resulted in more than 500,000 deportations. 
The accounts by survivors go beyond the massive killings, there were 
rapes, forced slavery and the deprivation of land and homes.
  Unfortunately, the infringement on Armenian human rights continues 
today with the conflict over Nagorno-Karabagh. This ongoing and 
needless confrontation has ripped families and communities apart and 
killed more than 1,500 Armenians. However, I hope and pray the newly 
elected President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, will continue to lend 
his expertise towards a solution on the Nagorno Karabagh dispute. I 
congratulate President Kocharian and wish him the best as he leads the 
people of Armenian into the next millennium.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues every year in 
commemorating the Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, many people 
continue to deny these events took place in the years between 1915 and 
1923. I cannot stress enough the importance that we as members of 
Congress continue to officially recognize this genocide because it is a 
part of our world history. We cannot deny, nor forget it.
  Although many of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide are no longer 
with us, it is important that we recognize this tragedy in honor of 
their relatives who continue to live with the memory of the event and 
teach their children about this tragedy. New York State is one of the 
few states which has offered a human rights/genocide curricula for 
teachers to use at their discretion, including the story of the 
Armenian genocide. I encourage my colleagues to work with their state 
educators to implement a similar program. Education programs, along 
with family discussions, are ways to ensure a peaceful future not only 
for the people of Armenia, but for all peoples.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me as a member of the 
Congressional Armenia Caucus where they will have the opportunity to 
work on issues affecting Armenians and Armenian-Americans while 
strengthening U.S.-Armenian relations in a bipartisan manner.
  I commend the people of Armenia for their tremendous contributions to 
the world while continuing to strengthen their own democracy. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues and the people of Armenia to 
ensure a stable and bright future for the years to come.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 83d anniversary of the 
Armenian Genocide, an act of mass murder that took 1.5 million Armenian 
lives and led to the exile of the Armenian nation from its historic 
homeland.
  It is of vital importance that we never forget what happened to the 
Armenian people. Indeed the only thing we can do for the victims is to 
remember, and we forget at our own peril.
  The Armenian Genocide, which began 15 years after the start of the 
twentieth century, was the first act of genocide of this century, but 
it was far from the last. The Armenian Genocide was followed by the 
Holocaust, Stalin's purges, and other acts of mass murder around the 
world.
  Adolf Hitler himself sad that the world's indifference to the 
slaughter in Armenia indicated that there would be no global outcry if 
he undertook the mass murder of Jews and others he considered less than 
human. And he was right. It was only after the Holocaust that the cry 
``never again'' arose throughout the world. But it was too late for 
millions of victims. Too late for the six million Jews. Too late for 
the 1.5 million Armenians.
  Today we recall the Armenian Genocide and we mourn its victims. We 
also pledge that we shall do everything we can to protect the Armenian 
nation against further aggression; in the Republic of Armenia, in 
Nagorno-Karabagh, or anywhere else.
  Unfortunately, there are some who still think it is acceptable to 
block the delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance around the world. 
Despite overwhelming international condemnation, Azerbaijan continues 
its blockade of U.S. humanitarian assistance to Armenia.
  It is tragic that Azerbaijan's tactics have denied food and medicine 
to innocent men, women, and children in Armenia, and created thousands 
of refugees. The U.S. must stand firm against any dealings with 
Azerbaijan until it ends this immoral blockade. We must make clear that 
warfare and blockades aimed at civilians are unacceptable as means for 
resolving disputes.
  Mr. Speaker, after the Genocide, the Armenian people wiped away their 
tears and cried out, ``Let us never forget. Let us always remember the 
atrocities that have taken the lives of our parents and our children 
and our neighbors.''
  As the Armenian-American author William Saroyan wrote, ``Go ahead, 
destroy this race . . . Send them from their homes into the desert . . 
. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh again, 
see if they will not sing and pray again. For, when two of them meet 
anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.''
  I rise today to remember those cries and to make sure that they were 
not uttered in vain. The Armenian nation lives. We must do everything 
we can to ensure that it is never imperiled again.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, at this time of year the descendants and 
relatives of those Armenians who died in the series of deportations and 
executions organized by the Turkish Ottoman Empire during the First 
World War gather at ceremonies across America to honor those victims' 
memory.
  I am pleased to join in this special order today, organized to 
commemorate those who died in that series of brutal programs and 
attacks--the effects of which were tantamount to a campaign of 
genocide.

[[Page H2210]]

  Although those who died in those tragic and violent days did not live 
to see it, the Armenian nation has now re-emerged, despite the terrible 
loss of life that has been suffered under the Ottoman Empire and the 
eight decades of communist dictatorship under the former Soviet Union.
  Today, the independent state of Armenia stands as clear proof that 
indeed the Armenian people have survived the challenges of the past--
and will survive the challenges of the present and future as well.
  Mr. Speaker, as we today honor the memory of those who lost their 
lives long before the Armenian nation regained its independence, let us 
today look forward to that day when the new, independent Republic of 
Armenia and its people will live in peace with their neighbors--a peace 
that will never see Armenian men, women and children subjected to the 
horrors and atrocities their ancestors experienced eighty years ago.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 83rd 
anniversary of the Armenian genocide. As in years past, I am pleased to 
join my House colleagues on both sides of the aisle in ensuring that 
the terrible atrocities committed against the Armenian people are never 
repeated.
  The event we come together to remember began on April 24, 1915, when 
over 200 religious, political, and intellectual leaders of the Armenian 
community were brutally executed by the Turkish government in Istanbul. 
By the time it ended in 1923, this war of ethnic genocide against the 
Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire claimed the lives of over half 
the world's Armenian population--an estimated 1.5 million men, women, 
and children.
  Sadly, there are some people who still question the fact that the 
Armenian genocide even occurred. History is clear, however, that the 
Ottoman Empire engaged in a systematic attempt to destroy the Armenian 
people and their culture. The U.S. National Archives contain numerous 
reports detailing the process by which the Armenian population of the 
Ottoman Empire was systematically decimated. That is one of the reasons 
we come together every year at this time: to remind the world that this 
event did indeed take place and that we must remain forever vigilant in 
our efforts to prevent all such future calamities.
  I am pleased to report that a strong and vibrant Armenian-American 
community thrives in my district in Northwest Indiana. My predecessor 
in the House, the late Adam Benjamin, was of Armenian heritage, and 
Northwest Indiana's strong ties to Armenian continue to flourish. Over 
the years, members of the Armenian-American community throughout the 
United States have contributed millions of dollars and countless hours 
of their time to various Armenian causes. Of particular note are Mrs. 
Vicki Hovanessian and her husband, Dr. Raffi Hovanessian, residents of 
Indiana's First Congressional District, who have worked to improve the 
quality of life in Armenian, as well as in Northwest Indiana. Two other 
Armenian-American families in my congressional district, Heratch and 
Sonya Doumanian and Ara and Rosy Yeretsian, have also contributed 
greatly toward charitable works in the United States and Armenia. Their 
efforts, together with hundreds of other members of the Armenian-
American community, have helped to finance several important projects 
in Armenia, including the construction of new schools, a mammography 
clinic, and a crucial roadway connecting Armenia to Nagorno Karabagh.
  The Armenian people have a long and proud history. In the fourth 
century, they became the first nation to embrace Christianity. During 
World War I, the Ottoman Empire was ruled by an organization, known as 
the Young Turk Committee, and became allied with Germany. Amid fighting 
in the Ottoman Empire's eastern Anatolian provinces, the historic 
heartland of the Christian Armenians, Ottoman authorities ordered the 
deportation and execution of all Armenians in the region. By the end of 
1923, virtually the entire Armenian population of Anatolia and western 
Armenia had been either killed or deported.
  While it is important to keep the lessons of history in mind, we must 
also remain eternally vigilant in order to protect Armenia from new and 
more hostile aggressors. Even now, as we rise to commemorate the 
accomplishments of the Armenian people and mourn the tragedies they 
have suffered, Turkey and other countries are attempting to break 
Armenia's spirit by engaging in a debilitating blockade against this 
free nation.
  That is why two years ago, I led the fight in the House of 
Representatives to free Armenia from Turkey's vicious blockade by 
offering an amendment to the Fiscal Year 1997 Foreign Operations 
appropriations bill. Under current law, U.S. economic assistance may 
not be given to any country that blocks humanitarian assistance from 
reaching another country. Despite the fact that Turkey has been 
blocking humanitarian aid for Armenia for many years, the President has 
used his waiver authority to keep economic assistance for Turkey 
intact. My amendment, which passed in the House by a bipartisan vote of 
301-118, would have prevented the President from using his waiver 
authority and would have cut off U.S. economic aid to Turkey unless it 
allowed humanitarian aid to reach Armenia. Unfortunately, my amendment 
was not included in the final version of the Foreign Operations 
appropriations bill and the Turkish blockade of Armenia continues 
unabated.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives 
John Porter and Frank Pallone, for organizing this special order to 
commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Their 
efforts will not only help to bring needed attention to this tragic 
period in world history, but also serve as a reminder to remain 
vigilant in the fight to protect basic human rights and freedoms around 
the world.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. April 24th, 1915, is solemnly 
recalled by the people of Armenia and Armenian-Americans as the 
beginning of a long-term, organized deprivation and relocation of a 
people from their homeland. Eighty-three years later, we mark this date 
to remember the beginning of this systematic elimination of Armenian 
civilians, which lasted for over seven years. By 1923, 1.5 million 
Armenians had been massacred and 500,000 more deported.
  Thousands of Armenian-Americans reside in my congressional district, 
and each year they mark this date to commemorate this anniversary and 
remember those who were lost. April 24th, 1915, marked a day when 
thousands of Armenian intellectual, religious and political leaders 
were arrested in Constantinople and deported or murdered. Today, we 
reflect on the massive destruction of property, freedom and dignity of 
those Armenians who were deported or killed under the Ottoman empire. 
We honor their memory and vow that such deprivation will never happen 
again.
  Mr. Speaker, we also mark this date to celebrate the contributions of 
millions of Armenians and Armenian-Americans since that awful time. As 
we continue to strengthen our bonds with the Armenian people, we must 
be vigilant about remaining a strong friend of Armenian democracy 
through U.S. foreign policy. It is important for those of us in the 
Congress to continue to speak out in favor of Armenian human rights and 
free trade.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in commemorating this solemn 
anniversary.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues 
here today in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Armenian 
genocide. I want to thank my colleagues, Mr. Porter and Mr. Pallone, 
for their work in organizing this tribute.
  This observance takes place every year on April 24. It was on that 
date in 1915 that more than 200 Armenian religious, political, and 
intellectual leaders were arrested in Constantinople and murdered. Over 
the next eight years, persecution of Armenians intensified, and by 
1923, more than 1.5 million had died and another 500,000 had gone into 
exile. At the end of 1923, all of the Armenian residents of Anatolia 
and Western Armenia had been either killed or deported.
  The genocide was criticized at the time by U.S. Ambassador Henry 
Morgenthau, who accused the Turkish authorities of ``giving the death 
warrant to a whole race.'' The founder of the modern Turkish nation, 
Kemal Ataturk, condemned the crimes perpetrated by his predecessors. 
Yet this forthright and sober analysis has been spurned by Turkey and 
the United States during the last decade.
  The Intransigence of this and prior administrations to recognizing 
and commemorating the Armenian genocide demonstrates our continued 
difficulty in reconciling the lessons of history with realpolitik 
policies; that is, those who fail to learn the lessons of history are 
condemned to repeat it. We have seen continually in this century the 
abject failure to learn and apply this basic principle. The Armenian 
genocide has been followed by the Holocaust against the Jews and mass 
killings in Kurdistan, Rwanda, Burundi, and Bosnia. Many of these 
situations are ongoing, and there seems little apparent sense of 
urgency or moral imperative to resolve them.
  Commemoration of the Armenian genocide is important not only for its 
acknowledgement of the suffering of the Armenian people, but also for 
establishing the historical truth. It also demonstrates that events in 
Armenia, Nazi Europe, and elsewhere should be seen not as isolated 
incidents but as part of a historical continuum showing that the human 
community still suffers from its basic inability to resolve its 
problems peacefully and with mutual respect.
  I hope that today's remarks by Members concerned about Armenia will 
help to renew our commitment, and that of all of the American people, 
to opposing any and all instances of genocide.
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with respect to a 
tragic--and, unfortunately, still largely unknown--event in world 
history. Eighty-three years ago, the Armenians

[[Page H2211]]

of Ottoman Turkey became the victim of a comprehensive government-
sponsored campaign of persecution which, after eight terrible years, 
left dead or deported some two million Armenian men, women, and 
children.
  From 1915 to 1923, Turkish Armenians were executed. Tortured, and put 
into forced labor, solely because of their ethnic heritage. The human 
costs were terrible and enormous. Over one million Armenians died as a 
result of the genocide, and hundreds of thousands of others became 
refugees. One statistic is especially telling: Over 2.5 million 
Armenians lived in Ottoman Turkey before the genocide began; today, 
less than 80,000 remain.
  Although the lives that were lost as a result of the genocide can 
never be returned, we must never forget what befell the Armenians of 
Ottoman Turkey solely because of their ethnicity. We must remember, not 
only in the honor of their memories, but so that future generations 
understand the terrible effects of bigotry and ethnic hatred.
  When isolated incidents of persecution are tolerated, or when 
politicians gain from supporting ethnic persecution, the consequences 
can be terrible. We must therefore never tolerate discrimination in any 
form. We must also remember that such tragic events can happen again 
when the world community ignores the warning signs before it is too 
late.
  I join Armenian-Americans and others in commemorating the terrible 
events of eighty-three years ago, and urge that we work to protect the 
human rights of all people around the world, so that we may prevent 
such a terrible tragedy from ever happening again.
  Mr. DOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
commemorating the 83rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
  This terrible human tragedy must not and will not be forgotten. Like 
the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide stands as a historical example of 
the human suffering that results from hatred and intolerance.
  One and one-half million Armenian people were massacred by the 
Ottoman Turkish Empire between 1915 and 1923. More than 500,000 
Armenians were exiled from a homeland that their ancestors had occupied 
for more than 3,000 years. A race of people was nearly eliminated.
  However, great the loss of human life and homeland that occurred 
during the genocide, a greater tragedy would be to forget that the 
Armenian Genocide ever happened. To not recognize the horror of such 
events almost assures their repetition in the future. Adolf Hitler, in 
preparing his genocide plans for the Jews, predicted that no one would 
remember the atrocities he was about to unleash. After all, he asked, 
``Who remembers the Armenians?''
  Our statements today are intended to preserve the memory of the 
Armenian loss, and to remind the world that the Turkish government--to 
this day--refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. The truth of 
this tragedy can never and should never be denied.
  This 83rd anniversary also brings to mind the current suffering of 
the Armenian people, who are still immersed in tragedy and violence. 
The unrest between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues in Nagorno-
Karabakh. Thousands of innocent people have already perished in this 
dispute, and still many more have been displaced and are homeless.
  In the face of this difficult situation comes an opportunity for 
reconciliation. Now is the time for Armenia and its neighbors, 
including Turkey, to come together, to work toward building 
relationships that will assure lasting peace.
  Meanwhile, in America, the Armenian-American community continues to 
thrive and to provide assistance and solidarity to its countrymen and 
women abroad. Now numbering nearly 1 million, the Armenian-American 
community is bound together by strong generational and family ties, an 
enduring work ethic and a proud sense of ethnic heritage. Today we 
recall the tragedy of their past, not to place blame, but to answer a 
fundamental question, ``Who remembers the Armenians?''
  Our commemoration of the Armenian Genocide speaks directly to that, 
and I answer. . . . We do.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 83rd anniversary 
of the start of the Armenian genocide, a period of tragic oppression 
and terrible suffering. On April 24, 1915, the Turkish government began 
to arrest Armenian community and political leaders. Many were executed 
without ever being formally charged with crimes. The following month 
the government deported most Armenians from Turkish Armenia, ordering 
that they resettle in what is now Syria. Many deportees never reached 
that destination. From 1915 to 1918, more than a million Armenians died 
of starvation or disease on long marches, or were massacred outright by 
Turkish forces. From 1918 to 1923, Armenians continued to suffer at the 
hands of the Turkish military, which eventually removed all remaining 
Armenians from Turkey.
  We mark this anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide in 
part because this tragedy for the Armenian people was a tragedy for all 
people. Genocide is not an ancient act, it is a horror which we must 
daily renew our commitment to prevent. If we do not remember, we will 
be condemned to witness such atrocities again and again.
  We should not be alone in remembering these events. We will know that 
humanity has progressed when it is not just the survivors who honor the 
dead but also when those whose ancestors perpetrated the horrors 
acknowledge their terrible responsibility and honor as well the memory 
of genocide's victims.
  Sadly, we cannot say that such atrocities are history. The death last 
week of Pol Pot reminds us of Cambodia's ``killing fields'' in the 
1970s, and we have only to recall this decade's mass ethnic killings in 
Bosnia and Rwanda to see that the threat of genocide persists. As 
President Clinton noted during his visit to Rwanda in March, the world 
community needs to do more to prevent genocide. We have not done so. We 
have not yet learned the lessons of this day.
  We also remember this day because it is a moment for us to celebrate 
the contribution of the Armenian community in America to the richness 
of our character and culture. The strength they have displayed in 
overcoming tragedy to flourish in this country is an example for all of 
us. Their powerful example is moving testimony to the truth that 
tyranny cannot extinguish the vitality of the human spirit. To all who 
wish to remember and to praise Armenian Americans I recommend the 
recently published memoir by one of America's most important 
contemporary poets, Peter Balakian, whose book Black Dog of Fate is a 
powerful reminded of Armenian history.
  Surrounded by countries hostile to them, to this day the Armenian 
struggle continues. But now with an independent Armenian state, the 
United States has the opportunity to contribute to a true memorial to 
the past by strengthening Armenia's emerging democracy. We must do all 
we can through aid and trade to support Armenia's efforts to construct 
an open political and economic system.
  I urge all my colleagues to ponder on the history of this moment and 
honor the memory and the accomplishments of the Armenian people and 
join with me in efforts to aid Armenia today.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and remember 
the Genocide against the Armenian people. Between 1915 and 1923 the 
Ottoman Turkish Empire committed a horrible Genocide against the 
Armenian people. In a systematic and deliberate attempt to eliminate 
the Armenian people and erase Armenian culture and history, the Ottoman 
Turkish government committed this atrocity. As a result, over one and 
one-half million Armenians were massacred. The Armenian Genocide is a 
historical fact, and has been recognized by academicians and historians 
worldwide. The evidence is irrefutable and includes many eyewitness 
accounts, and statements from the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey at the 
time. Unfortunately, today's Turkish government is still persisting in 
their denial that the Armenian Genocide ever took place.
  On April 24 each year Armenians around the world commemorate the 
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Commemoration activities will 
take place in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York, Armenia, and in 
my Congressional District in Fresno, California. Many commemoration 
activities are planned in Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley over the 
next several days. I have the honor of representing thousands of 
Armenian-Americans in California's Nineteenth Congressional District, 
and today I send them my most sincere condolences on this solemn 
occasion.
  As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues I have 
fought hard for aid to Armenia, aid to Nagorno-Karabagh, and other 
important issues. However, I am equally proud to be the author along 
with Rep. David Bonior, of H. Con. Res. 55 which would ``honor the 
memories of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.'' As well as having 
this Congress honor the memories of the victims, H. Con. Res. 55 also 
encourages The Republic of Turkey to do the same. This legislation 
calls on the government of Turkey to turn away from its denials of the 
Armenian Genocide, and instead, to openly acknowledge this tragic 
chapter in its history. By doing so, the Turkish government can help to 
raise the level of trust and relations between Armenia and Turkey and 
allow Armenians to begin the healing progress. I encourage my 
colleagues to vote for the passage of H. Con. Res. 55.
  Remembering this Genocide against the Armenians will help ensure this 
type of tragedy is never allowed to occur again.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in 
commemorating the 83rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. It has 
become a tradition for members to stand in the well of the House and 
pay tribute to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were 
slaughtered by the Ottoman Turks from 1915 to 1923.

[[Page H2212]]

  Mr. Speaker, April 24, 1915 represents a tragic day in the history of 
the Armenian people. It is a day that has left an indelible mark on the 
consciousness of mankind. Eighty-three years ago, the Ottoman Turks 
unleashed the forces of hatred upon Armenian men, women and children in 
a deliberate, calculated policy of extermination. On the night of April 
24, 1915, the Ottoman Turks ruthlessly rounded up and targeted for 
elimination Armenian religious, political and intellectual leaders. So 
began one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.
  For eight bloody years a reign of terror ruled the daily lives of 
Armenians in the Ottoman empire. For eight long horrific years, 
Armenians were consumed by the fires of racial and religious 
intolerance. Tragically, by the end of 1923, the entire Armenian 
population of Anatolia and western Armenia had been either killed or 
deported.
  On the eve of launching the Jewish holocaust, Adolph Hitler commented 
to his generals, ``who, after all, speaks of the Annihilation of the 
Armenians?'' Mr. Speaker, the members of the U.S. Congress speak of the 
Annihilation of the Armenians. We speak out today so that future 
generations of Americans will know the facts surrounding the first 
genocide of the 20th century. We observe this solemn anniversary, along 
with the Armenian-American community and the people of Armenia, so that 
no one will be able to deny the undeniable.
  Many of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide established new lives 
in America, contributing their considerable talents and energy to the 
economic prosperity and cultural diversity of our great nation. 
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is with a sense of gratitude toward 
Americans or Armenian descent and a deep sense of moral obligation that 
I join my colleagues in honoring the memory of these fallen victims of 
genocide. They have not been forgotten.

                          ____________________