[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NINETY-SECOND COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the victims 
of the Armenian Genocide.
  Today marks the anniversary of the deliberate campaign of genocide 
perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. On April 24th, the Ottoman 
government arrested an estimated 250 Armenian religious, political, and 
intellectual leaders, which were taken to the interior of Turkey and 
murdered. From 1915-1923, 1.5 million Armenians were killed and more 
than 500,000 were forced from their homeland into exile.
  In spite of overwhelming evidence, particularly American diplomatic 
records from the time, some continue to deny the occurrence of this 
brutal tragedy in human history. As a member of Congress, I represent a 
significant population of Armenian survivors who have proudly preserved 
their culture, traditions, and religion and have told the horrors of 
the genocide to an often indifferent world.
  We must continue to ensure future generations know and understand the 
history of the Armenian Genocide in order to learn from the mistakes of 
the past and prevent future atrocities. For that reason, I have again 
cosponsored a resolution, H. Res. 106, that calls upon the president to 
make recognition of the Armenian Genocide an official position of 
United States foreign policy.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time to fully recognize the Armenian Genocide in 
order to right the historical record. By doing so we pay tribute to the 
memory of all the individuals who suffered, their family members that 
remain, and vow to never forget their sacrifices.

                          ____________________