[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMMEMORATING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES E. ROGAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the people of Armenia celebrated 
the eighth anniversary of their republic--honoring a national 
referendum in support of a free and democratic Republic of Armenia. 
Less than 1 month ago, I had the honor and the privilege of visiting 
this proud nation and would like to share with my colleagues what I 
learned about this nation whose culture and tradition dates back some 
three millennia.
  Perhaps the most inspirational lesson I brought back concerns a 
terrible experience endured not only by the Armenian people, but by the 
world--the atrocities committed at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in 
the first decades of this century. Despite a cultural and political 
annihilation--indeed a genocide--the Armenian people have flourished as 
a defining culture in the Caucasus, in the United States, and on the 
world stage.
  This resilience is evident in the Republic's rise from former captive 
nation under the Soviet empire state to independent democracy. As I 
learned on my recent trip, the Armenian people--in the United States 
and Armenia--have united behind the cause of a prosperous community and 
a productive nation. Today, Armenia is leading the region in 
development of infrastructure, technology and education.
  As we celebrate this independence, I reflect on my meeting with the 
President of Armenia, Robert Kocharian. Through his efforts and those 
of his Azerbaijani colleague, Heidar Aliev, the release of Armenian 
prisoners of war recently was secured. This is just one example of 
their work to end decades of bitter feuding in the region. President 
Kocharian also has guided his nation into a new era of education 
reform, of artistic rejuvenation and of economic development.
   Mr. Speaker, our Nation is built upon a foundation of freedom, 
democracy, and independence. The Republic of Armenia, I am proud to 
report, follows this same tradition. The Armenian people have proven 
that the triumph of the human spirit--despite decades of war, of 
genocide, and of oppression--can not stifle the will of a people to 
make their world a better place to live. I am honored to represent one 
of the largest populations of ethnic Armenians outside Armenia, and I 
am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have visited their homeland.
  As we move toward a new century, and look back on the successes of 
our past, I would ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the 
remarkable achievements in the Republic of Armenia. To the Armenian 
people we send our respect and admiration on the occasion of your 
nation's eighth anniversary of independence.

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