[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 47 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

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                               speech of

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 12, 2000

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am paying tribute and joining my 
colleagues in commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Armenian 
Genocide. As many of you know, on April 24, 1915, a group of 200 
Armenian religious, political, and intellectual leaders were arrested 
and murdered, marking the beginning of the first genocide of this 
century. Over the next 8 years, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred 
and over 500,000 survivors were exiled in an attempt to eliminate the 
Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. Several were deported from 
areas as far north as the Black Sea and as far west as European Turkey 
to concentration camps. In addition to being deprived of their 
homeland, their freedom, and their dignity, many Armenians died of 
starvation, thirst, and epidemic disease in horrendous concentration 
camps.
  Unfortunately, 85 years after the beginning of this terrible period 
in the history of humanity, the Turkish Government refuses to 
acknowledge the truth about its past. As a member of the House Armed 
Services Committee and the Armenian Caucus, I have supported efforts to 
recognize the Armenian Genocide. I feel it is imperative that we show 
respect and remembrance to those victims and encourage Turkey to do the 
same. By remembering this crime against humanity, we honor those who 
perished and serve notice on all governments that such crimes will not 
be forgotten.

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