[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 144 (Friday, November 3, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 3, 2000

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, the Congress was set to vote on a historic 
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide but it was pulled because 
the lobbying power of the Turkish Government has once again stifled it. 
Opponents have argued that passage of this resolution would severely 
jeopardize United States-Turkey relations. This resolution is not an 
indictment of the current Turkish Government nor is it a condemnation 
of any current leader of Turkey. It is an acknowledgment of genocide 
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire almost a century ago.
  In 1915, 1.5 million women, children, and men were killed and the 
Ottoman Empire forcibly deported 500,000 Armenians during an 8-year 
reign of brutal repression. Armenians were deprived of their homes, 
their dignity, and ultimately their lives. Yet America, the greatest 
democracy and land of freedom, has not made an official statement 
regarding the Armenian Genocide. I am dismayed and angered by this 
hypocrisy and I will not rest until this resolution passes the 
Congress.
  The Armenian Genocide has been acknowledged by countries and 
international bodies such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, the Council of 
Europe, Cyprus, the European Parliament, France, Great Britain, Greece, 
Lebanon, Russia, the United Nations and Uruguay. All of these countries 
and organizations believed that recognizing this resolution out-weighed 
any potential repercussion from Turkey. We should be part of this honor 
roll of nations and organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, as the only Member of Congress of Armenian and Assyrian 
descent, I am very proud of my heritage. I sat at the knees of my 
grandparents and elders as they told their stories of hardship and 
suffering endured by so many at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. That 
is how I came to this understanding and this knowledge and why I bring 
this story to the House of Representatives.
  It is important to appreciate fully that the Armenian people have 
made great contributions to our nation. They have distinguished 
themselves in the arts, in law, in academics, in every walk of life and 
they continue to make significant contributions in communities across 
our country today.
  It is time, Mr. Speaker, that Congress begin to heal the wounds of 
the past. It's critically important for our nation to acknowledge what 
happened, but also as a nation it is important to understand that we 
are teaching present and future generations of the Armenian Genocide.
  In closing, I want to express my gratitude to the Armenian community 
for their hard work on this resolution. This work is not in vain 
because we've brought the genocide into our nation's consciousness 
against great odds. In another Congress, in another time, we shall 
complete this effort and I shall do everything I can to see that this 
resolution and all it represents will be the official expression of our 
nation.

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