[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I would like to address 
during my 5 minutes the Armenian genocide. Today, of course, is April 
24. The Armenian genocide began over 85 years ago, on April 24 in 1915. 
Why are we here? Why am I? The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Knollenberg), who is the cochair of the Armenian Caucus, is with me who 
has been a champion over the years of trying to bring an Armenian 
genocide recognition resolution to the floor of the House and to the 
Congress so that we finally would pass it. We are here because we feel 
very strongly that the Armenian genocide has not been properly 
recognized in the U.S. House, in this Congress and also by the 
President.
  There is no need, I guess, to go into the reasons. We all know the 
reasons. And they are that the Turkish Government is very strenuous in 
its opposition and constantly exerts pressure on the President, on the 
Congress, on the leadership of the Houses not to bring a resolution up 
that would recognize the genocide.
  I have maintained for years that that is a huge mistake on the part 
of the Turkish Government to use that kind of leverage against our 
Government, in part because the fact of the matter is the genocide 
occurred and it is a huge mistake to try to cover it up. We know that 
if genocide occurs and it is covered up, it will occur again. History 
tells us that. But beyond that, it is also a mistake because until the 
time comes when the Turkish Government is willing to recognize the 
genocide, there never will be what I call the cleansing effect that 
Turkey needs to go through with its leaders and with its population to 
make sure that they recognize this horrible series of events, and they 
do not have the events reoccur, that they do not continue to persecute 
minorities, including the Armenian minority that still exists in a very 
minimum amount in the state of Turkey today.
  What we have done this year is the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Knollenberg) and I within the Armenian Caucus have circulated a letter 
asking President Bush tomorrow to use the word ``genocide'' and 
recognize the genocide in his address that he and other Presidents have 
done now for many years. President Bush to his credit has been a friend 
of Armenia and a friend of U.S.-Armenia relations and the two countries 
growing closer together. During his campaign, he repeatedly made 
statements about the Armenian genocide and used the term ``genocide.'' 
Unfortunately, like his predecessors, both Democrat and Republican, 
once they took office we do not see the word ``genocide'' used.

                              {time}  1530

  We do ask the President, we do call upon him tomorrow when he 
commemorates and when he issues a statement about the Armenian 
genocide, to use the term ``genocide'' because, in fact, it was a 
purposeful, intentional State act that occurred in 1915. It was not a 
coincidence. It was not a mishap. It was not a civil war. It was an 
intentional act on the part of the then Turkish Government to 
perpetrate a genocide against the Armenian people.
  We have, I believe, 163 cosponsors of that letter to the President. 
We have another 5 or 10 Members on a bipartisan basis who sent similar 
letters on their own, individually, to the President asking that he do 
so, and I hope sincerely that he does tomorrow.
  Let me say this, though. The issue of the genocide is important not 
only because of the past and because we do not want to repeat the 
mistakes of the past, but also because the actions of the Turkish 
Government today continue to perpetrate the genocide. As I mentioned, 
there are not that many Armenians who are now living in Turkey, but 
there are a few thousand, and those people that live there today 
continue to be discriminated against. The Turkish Government makes it 
very difficult for them to practice their Christian Armenian orthodox 
religion. There are limitations on their ability to open Armenian 
schools and teach the Armenian language and Armenian culture. They 
still face problems in terms of owning property, and their inability to 
own property or to buy and sell property.
  One of the most egregious examples of this took place just in the 
last few months when two Armenian Americans, American citizens, were 
encouraged by the Turkish Government to purchase a hotel for tourism 
purposes in Van, which is the area where many Armenians historically 
lived. This couple, after they had opened the hotel and purchased the 
hotel, were basically told to get out. They were told that they would 
not be reimbursed for this hotel and for their property. They have not 
been able to operate the hotel. They have not been able to essentially 
do anything with their business. They have lost their business, they 
have lost their investment, because the Turkish Government found out 
that they were of Armenian dissent. Myself and others within our Caucus 
have sent a letter to the U.S. Ambassador objecting to this.
  I want to conclude now, Mr. Speaker, but I just want to say that the 
genocide continues and the perpetrators of the genocide continue to 
make it difficult, even for Armenians who live in Turkey, to continue 
to operate as legitimate citizens.

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