[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E625-E626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    COMMEMORATING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2001

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues to 
remember one of the great tragedies of the twentieth century: the 
deportations and massacres of more than one and a half million 
Armenians in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. I extend my sincere 
sympathy to the survivors and their descendants for the hardships they 
suffered. Our hearts go out to Armenians around the world, including 
the Armenian-American community, as they mourn the loss of those 
innocent lives.
  However, Armenians deserve not only our sympathy, but our support as 
well, Although Armenia has made great strides to become an independent 
and democratic state, many challenges remain. As Armenia, moves towards 
forging a lasting peace in the region, it is critical that there be an 
honest accounting of all those who died and why they died.
  Taking a moment here today, is the least we can do to honor the 
victims of that terrible time, but it is essential nonetheless. If 
there is to be any hope of preventing future acts of such inhumanity, 
the senseless acts of violence inflicted upon Armenians must be 
properly recognized.

[[Page E626]]



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