[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 50 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN OBSERVANCE OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2005

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, April 24, 2005 is the 90th 
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the systematic and planned 
extermination of an entire ethnic group by the Ottoman Empire, and the 
first act of genocide in the 20th Century. I join my colleagues and the 
Armenian-American community in my district, the 9th Congressional 
District of New Jersey, and with people of goodwill throughout the 
world, in solemn observance and acknowledgement of the deaths of 1.5 
million Armenians during the years 1915-1923.
  Countless Armenian families were torn apart forever by these gruesome 
acts of violence--acts that have been seared into the memories of the 
courageous individuals who survived. Survivors have vowed to never let 
their children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren, or others in 
the world, forget this past. Unfortunately, there is still a denial on 
the part of many people around the world about the actual occurrence of 
a genocide in Armenia. I stand steadfast with my Armenian friends in 
support of an acknowledgement of the horrors that were inflicted upon 
their families, and I continue to urge the recognition of the Armenian 
Genocide.
  This year, the number ``ninety'' serves as a reminder that too many 
years have passed without proper recognition, and it serves as a 
motivational tool to continue to educate the world about the Armenian 
Genocide. In past years on the day of the anniversary, my Armenian-
American constituents from St. Leon Armenian Apostolic Church in Fair 
Lawn, St. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Ridgefield, and St. 
Thomas Armenian Apostolic Church in Tenafly would participate in solemn 
services held in memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide at 
their individual churches. This year, however, the number ``ninety'' 
will unify Armenian-Americans as all members of the Armenian Apostolic 
churches on the East Coast will convene in Times Square in New York 
City to stand together and have their voices heard.
  This anniversary also provides us with an opportunity to pledge that 
such a slaughter should never take place again. I am sickened and 
dismayed by the atrocities that we continue to see today in the Sudan, 
as well as others that we have seen in the 20th century, such as the 
Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing campaigns in Cambodia, Kosovo and 
Rwanda. All of these events should be recognized for what they are: 
Genocide.
  As a Jewish-American, I stand united with Armenians who continue to 
fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide so the world will never 
forget the first crime against humanity in the 20th Century. I am 
hopeful that this 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will bring 
with it the recognition that is deserved, and help us in our 
obligations as global citizens to protect the basic human rights of all 
people. We owe it to our ancestors, our families, and humanity to be 
committed to preventing genocide in the future, no matter when, where, 
or to whom it occurs.

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