[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in commemoration of the 
Armenian Genocide, a horrific event in world history that took the 
lives of 1.5 million Armenians and tore the Armenian nation from its 
historic homeland.
  The Armenian Genocide, the first act of genocide in the twentieth 
century, is emblematic of the high human cost of senseless hatred and 
prejudice. I join my colleagues today, in solidarity with the Armenian-
American community and with Armenians throughout the world, to 
commemorate this dark period in human history and to ensure we take to 
heart the lessons learned from this tragedy. The legacy of those who 
were lost must be our pledge to remember--and to prevent such an 
episode from happening again.
  We have already learned the lessons of forgetting. The indifference 
of the world to human suffering and the slaughter of 1.5 million 
Armenians set the stage for the Holocaust, ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, 
and other tragic events of a massive scale. Today's commemoration comes 
too late for those who have already fallen victim to blind hatred. But 
we hope and pray that it is not too late for those in danger around the 
world.
  As we recall the Armenian Genocide and mourn its victims, we renew 
our pledge to the Armenian nation to do everything we can to prevent 
further aggression, and we renew our commitment to ensuring that 
Armenians throughout the world can live free of threats to their 
existence and prosperity.
  Unfortunately, we must still work toward this simple goal. Azerbaijan 
continues to blockade Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh, denying the 
Armenian people the food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance 
they need to lead secure, prosperous lives. The United States has taken 
a leadership role in trying to bring the blockade to an end and 
crafting a solution to this tragic conflict. As we look forward to a 
new round of proximity talks in June, we are filled with hope that this 
year we will see peace and stability in the Caucasus.
  Mr. Speaker, the Armenian people have shown true resilience in 
confronting the many obstacles they have faced in the last century. 
From the ashes of the Genocide, Armenians have become a strong people, 
making great contributions throughout the world, In the words of 
Armenian-American author William Saroyan, ``when two of them meet 
anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.''
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in hoping that we will soon see a 
``New Armenia,'' and in pledging to hasten its arrival.

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