[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 56 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                84TH COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 1999

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, April 24 marks the commemoration of the 
massacre of the Armenian people in Turkey during and after the First 
World War. More than 1.5 million people were expelled from their homes 
and marched to their deaths in what is recorded as the first of this 
century's state-ordered genocides against a minority group. Tragically, 
at the close of the century we again bear witness to the universality 
of human cruelty and fanaticism as the Kosovar Albanians are ethnically 
cleansed from their homeland.
  We must remember, we must reflect and we must learn. One of the great 
thinkers and advocates of our time--indeed, the conscience of this 
century--Elie Wiesel, has said that ``indifference makes humans 
inhuman; indifference is always the friend of the enemy; indifference 
is not only a sin, it is a punishment.'' We must not be indifferent, 
Mr. Speaker, we must also act.
  We remember the Armenians and their suffering, the incomprehensive 
magnitude of their loss. We honor those who perished. Yet, Mr. Speaker, 
we also remember the survivors and are inspired by their sacrifice, 
their strength and their creativity in building a future for the 
Armenian people. Today, independent Armenia guarantees the security and 
future of the nation and is a beacon of hope to Armenian people 
everywhere. Its people work tirelessly to strengthen democratic 
institutions and build a flourishing market economy to ensure peace and 
prosperity for generations to come. It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that 
those to come will not have to sacrifice as their ancestors have. It is 
also my hope that the parties to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh will 
renew and redouble their efforts to reach a negotiated settlement and 
to help bring peace and prosperity to the entire region.
  Mr. Speaker, the Armenian people did not ``disappear,'' as their 
persecutors intended. They survived and they flourished. Their strength 
of spirit, endurance and prosperity of the Armenian people give hope 
for the future to all of us--especially those who suffer now.

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