[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                84TH COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 1999

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 84th 
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 
more than 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 Armenia 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 Armenia, as well as in Northwest Indiana. In fact, 
Dr. Hovanessian serves his country and his faith as the personal 
physician to His Holiness the Catholicos, enabling His Holiness to 
travel to Rome for the recent opening of the Armenian exhibit at the 
Vatican library--an event attended by His Holiness the Pope. Mrs. 
Hovanessian has worked to increase awareness of Armenian culture 
through her efforts to showcase the work of Armenian artists in 
exhibitions here in the United States. On a national level, their 
efforts together were integral to commemorate the 100th anniversary of 
the Armanian Apostolic Church of America, which has grown and thrived 
since it was established. They played a key role in raising $5 million 
for Armenian causes during His Holiness the Catholicos' recent visit to 
the United States to celebrate the historic event.
  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. Dr. and Mrs. Doumanian have dedicated their lives to 
supporting Armenians both in this country and in Armenia. These 
distinguished citizens were actively involved in the observance of the 
100th anniversary of Armenian independence and Dr. Doumanian was 
recently honored for his selfless endeavors with the Crystal Globe 
Award from the Asian-American Medical Society. I was privileged to be 
there when Dr. Doumanian received that acknowledgment of his 
innumerable contributions to his family and his faith.
  The projects undertaken by these dedicated individuals, together with 
hundreds of other members of the Armenian-American community, have 
helped to finance many essential 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 three 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 county. 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.
  Furthermore, last month, I testified before the Foreign Operations 
Appropriations Subcommittee, as I have for each of the past several 
years, to request that the subcommittee maintain its practice of 
reserving one-third of NIS funding for the Southern Caucasus; sixty 
percent of those funds for Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan; and no 
less than twenty-five percent of Southern Caucasus funds for Armenia 
alone. I also argued that the current ban on assistance to Azerbaijan 
should remain in place until Azerbaijan takes serious, demonstrable 
steps to ending their current conflict with Armenia, starting with an 
end to their own blockade.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives 
John Porter and Frank Pallone, for organizing this special order to 
commemorate the 84th 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.

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