[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NINETY-SECOND COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, each year on April 24, Armenian communities 
around the world gather in somber commemoration of the genocide that 
began in 1915. Sadly, after 92 years, their grief is only compounded by 
those who aggressively deny or raise doubt about this troubling chapter 
of history.
  This should be a day reserved for honoring the memory of those who 
were killed and paying tribute to the strength of those who survived. 
It should be a time to reflect on the personal narratives of those who 
were exiled, the historical evidence of villages and communities that 
were destroyed, and diplomatic cables from U.S. officials that 
described the atrocities. It should be an opportunity to resolve 
ourselves to fight crimes against humanity in all forms and all places. 
Instead, year after year, April 24 unleashes a battle of semantics.
  Those who acknowledge what happened in Armenia as a ``tragedy,'' a 
``catastrophe,'' or a ``massacre'' are correct. But nothing other than 
the term ``genocide'' can wholly characterize the systematic 
deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians and the deliberate 
annihilation of 1.5 million men, women and children. Anything short of 
that is unfair to those who perished and unhelpful to our plight 
against future acts of genocide.

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