[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1526-H1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PAYING TRIBUTE TO THOSE LOST IN THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rogers of Michigan). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening, as my colleagues and I 
do every year at this time, in a proud but solemn tradition to remember 
and pay tribute to the victims of one of history's worst crimes against 
humanity, the Armenian genocide of 1929 through 1933.
  The genocide began 86 years ago today. Mr. Speaker, I have long 
supported legislation that would put the U.S. House of Representatives 
officially on the record in recognizing the Armenian genocide.
  Last fall, the bipartisan Armenian genocide bill was approved by the 
Committee on International Relations by a vote of 24 to 11. On October 
19 of last year, the legislation was finally scheduled for a vote on 
the House floor. I am confident that if the vote had ever occurred, the 
Armenian genocide legislation would have passed with overwhelming 
bipartisan support.
  In a last-minute effort to ensure the legislation never came to the 
floor for a vote, the Turkish Government sent a threat to President 
Clinton that American soldiers stationed in the region would be in 
jeopardy if a vote ever took place. This threat was enough for 
President Clinton to send a letter to the Speaker of this House 
requesting that the legislation be pulled from the schedule.
  Essentially, the Speaker and President Clinton, and therefore the 
government of the United States, both executive and legislative, 
succumbed to the threats of the Turkish Government. I believe this was 
shameful. Italy and France did not give in to the Turkish Government 
last year when both these nations approved an Armenian genocide 
resolution.
  I am also proud that State and local governments here in the United 
States are stepping out in front of the Federal Government on this 
issue. Earlier this month, Maryland approved an Armenian genocide 
resolution, becoming the 27th State to make such a recognition.
  Congress, Mr. Speaker, should not be forced by a foreign government 
to deny or ignore the U.S. record and response to the events that took 
place in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923. Those of us who have 
been fighting for this recognition will not give up. We are committed, 
and we will not quit fighting until this Nation finally recognizes the 
Armenian genocide as genocide.
  President Bush had a golden opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to recognize 
the genocide today in annual statements made by the President. From 
statements that candidate Bush made, one would have believed as 
President he would use the word ``genocide'' today. But sadly, today, 
the President chose not to use the word ``genocide,'' thus minimizing 
the events from 1915 to 1923 that we commemorate this evening.
  I know many Armenian-Americans will feel betrayed because of 
President Bush's inaction today. In public statements and letters to 
Armenian organizations and individuals during his Presidential 
campaign, Bush said, ``The 20th century was marred by wars of 
unimaginable brutality, mass murders, and genocide. History records 
that the Armenians were the first people of the last century to have 
endured these cruelties.''
  Bush went on to say, ``If elected President, I would ensure that our 
Nation properly recognizes the tragic suffering of the Armenian 
people.'' But it is unfortunate that the President did not stand by 
these words today.
  I am trying not to be partisan here, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, I am 
disappointed with President Bush, as I was disappointed with President 
Clinton before him.
  For anyone who has any doubts about the truth of the Armenian 
genocide, they can just go down the street to the National Archives, 
where volumes of historical records prove what really happened. Five 
years from now, we will have the opportunity to visit a genocide museum 
here in Washington. The museum, which will be located at 14th and G 
streets in the Northwest area of our Nation's Capital, will be a 
permanent reminder of the atrocities of 1915 to 1923.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the RECORD the remarks of my friend, Ross 
Vartian, the director of planning for this new museum, who discussed 
this issue.
  The statement by Mr. Vartian is as follows:

  Statement by Ross Vartian, Director of Planning, Armenian National 
Institute, Knights of Vartan Times Square Martyr's Day Event, April 22, 
                                  2001

       The Armenian National Institute, or ANI, extends its deep 
     appreciation to the Knights of Vartan for once again 
     organizing this year's Martyr's Day Commemoration. We 
     recognize the leadership of Grand Commander Robert Barsam, 
     this event's Chairman Sam Azadian, Martyr's Day Committee

[[Page H1527]]

     members Hirant Gulian & Leon Nigogosian, and all the other 
     dedicated volunteers who made it possible for us to be here 
     today to remember our losses, celebrate our survivors and 
     commit to a future without Genocide.
       I am here today to talk about the future Armenian Genocide 
     Museum and memorial. When complete, this complex in our 
     nation's capital just two blocks from the White House will be 
     the first ever Museum and Memorial about the Armenian 
     Genocide anywhere in the Diaspora.
       On behalf of the Armenian National Institute, I am pleased 
     to outline our vision for what will be in the not too distant 
     future a state of the art museum and memorial complex 
     dedicated to Armenian Genocide remembrance, research and 
     education, as well as serving as another powerful voice for 
     Genocide prevention.
       Washington is justifiably renown for the quality of its 
     museums, and we have set as our standard to match the best 
     that our nation's capital has to offer. Therefore, we warmly 
     welcome the solidarity and support of the U.S. Holocaust 
     Memorial Museum, whose superb exhibits and programs have 
     inspired and empowered millions.
       In all candor, we have just begun our work. The acquisition 
     of this marquee property in the heart of Washington, DC has 
     served as the catalyst to undertake a comprehensive, multi-
     year planning,design and development process. We are 
     currently reviewing proposals from competitive teams or 
     architects, museum designers and property developers to 
     recommend the best space utilization option for the 
     properties we have acquired. We are aware that only the best 
     professional talent will suffice for our purposes.
       The Armenian National Institute accepts the privilege and 
     responsibility of creating a physical complex second to none 
     and of creating exhibits and programs that will be as 
     inspirational and empowering as those in the Holocaust 
     Memorial Museum and other leading interactive museums around 
     the world.
       ANI is also aware of the special responsibility of 
     completing the first ever Armenian Genocide Museum and 
     Memorial outside Armenia. Fully recognizing that the entire 
     community will wish to engage, ANI will seek the active 
     participation of our incredibly diverse Armenian Diaspora and 
     ancestral homeland. This is, after all, a presentation about 
     all Armenians for humankind. No organization would have the 
     right to present the modern Armenian saga without first 
     seeking out the resources and perspectives of the entire 
     community.
       The museum and memorial complex will be a permanent place 
     for generations of visitors that will be made possible by all 
     Armenians, joined by others of good will who appreciate its 
     universal moral implications.
       Our project is timely. Those who would deny the Armenian 
     Genocide are now limited to Turkish officials and those 
     beyond Turkey who invoke political and economic rationales 
     for their support.
       In the academic arena, the uncontestable fact of the 
     Armenian Genocide has been overwhelmingly affirmed. 
     Similarly, in secondary schools and universities throughout 
     the western world, students of Holocaust and Genocide studies 
     routinely examine the case of the Armenian Genocide to learn 
     its specific and universal lessons.
       Nevertheless, the struggle continues between remembrance 
     and denial--and remembrance and indifference.
       It is our hope that this center will serve as the nexus to 
     broaden awareness of the Armenian Genocide throughout the 
     academic and educational communities whose focus is human 
     rights, the responsibility of majorities towards minorities, 
     and the horrified consequences for peoples and groups at risk 
     in the absence of safeguards.
       But it is also our hope that this place will provide public 
     officials with a greater degree of moral conviction, courage 
     and vision so that they summarily reject the incessant 
     threats that emanate from Turkish officials to sever 
     diplomatic and economic relations when any government dares 
     to affirm the Armenian Genocide. The public officials with 
     you today have demonstrated by their presence and other 
     official actions that they reject Turkey's denials and 
     threats.
       Ladies and gentlemen . . .
       Through this facility, we will remind the world of Hitler's 
     chilling cynicism on humankind's predilection to forget.
       Through this facility, we will enthusiastically support 
     collaborative work between turks and Armenians. We have seen 
     in this great country the redemptive value of facing history 
     squarely, and we will promote a dialogue to secure the same 
     benefits for our two peoples.
       Through this facility we will promote international 
     condemnation of and action against any government of people 
     that attempts to do what was done to our people at the 
     beginning of the last century.
       We must succeed in this unprecedented effort in the name of 
     our martyred millions, in tribute to those who survived and 
     established new Armenian communities throughout the world, 
     and in honor of countless non-Armenians who protested this 
     crime against humanity and who saved tens of thousands from 
     oblivion.
       Finally ladies and gentlemen, we will succeed not only to 
     remember the past but also to enhance the security of the 
     people of Armenian and Karabagh--and to help insure that the 
     world never forgets the cataclysmic price of indifference and 
     inaction.
       We look forward to this historic challenge and we welcome 
     all who wish to join us. Thank you in advance for your 
     generous support.

  Mr. Speaker, the Armenian genocide is a painful subject to discuss 
for me and others. We must never forget, though, what happened, and 
never cease speaking out. We must overcome the denials and the 
indifference, and keep alive the memory and truth of what happened to 
the Armenian people in the past, as we work to see in this tragic 
history that it never be repeated.

                          ____________________