[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2009

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 94th 
anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, which was the first 
genocide of the 20th century and sadly, the template for a cycle of 
genocide that continues to this very day.
  It is, by any reasonable standard, established history that between 
1915 and 1923 the Ottoman Empire systematically killed an estimated 1.5 
million Armenians and drove hundreds of thousands of others into exile 
from their ancestral homeland. The record of this atrocity is well 
documented in the United States Archives and has been universally 
accepted in the International Association of Genocide Scholars and the 
broader historical and academic communities.
  This year, our Nation has the opportunity to finally recognize the 
Armenian Genocide as such in the annual commemoration from the White 
House. Year after year, we have seen the same standard letter from the 
White House which offers sympathy and apology for the ``mass 
killings,'' yet refused to label these events as genocide. However, 
President Obama made promises during his campaign that he would right 
this wrong, and recognize the Armenian Genocide. I am hopeful Madam 
Speaker, we finally escape from being under Turkey's thumb on this 
issue. It is vital our Nation has a foreign policy that accurately 
reflects history.
  Despite my optimism, I am told yet again that now is not the right 
time for our Nation to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Two years ago, 
we were told recognition would hurt our troops fighting in Iraq. Four 
years ago we were told the same thing. This year, we're being told that 
recognizing the Armenian Genocide will hurt American jobs. How? We 
cannot develop a foreign policy based solely on what other countries 
want to hear about their past. Should we not recognize the Soviet 
orchestrated famine which killed millions in the Ukraine? Should we 
allow Cambodia to rewrite the atrocities committed under the reign of 
the Khmer Rouge? What if our schools stopped teaching the American 
Revolution and we stopped celebrating the Fourth of July because it 
offended the British? All nations must recognize past events, both good 
and bad, and learn from it.
  To ensure Congress does not mention or pass the Armenian Genocide 
resolution, Turkey hires powerful and expensive lobbyists to meet with 
Members and staff, distort the historical facts, and make veiled 
threats on what might happen if the Genocide is recognized. For the 
last 20 years, Turkey has been very successful. I firmly believe that 
we should work with foreign nations on challenges and mutual interests. 
However, I do not believe another nation can hold our foreign policy 
decisions hostage because they do not want to admit to dark periods in 
their past. It is unacceptable that we continue to allow threats from 
Turkey to hinder our Nation from recognizing a historical fact that has 
been recognized by historians, scholars, theologians, philosophers, 
common people, and President Ronald Reagan.
  My district is home to thousands of Armenian-Americans, many who are 
the sons and daughters of survivors. When I am home, I am often 
approached in the store or on the street by my Armenian friends asking 
when our country will honor their parents and finally recognize the 
genocide. We are quickly approaching the 100th anniversary of the start 
of the Armenian Genocide, and I am hopeful we do not have to wait until 
then to bring justice to my Armenian friends and neighbors.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I will say again, genocide is not 
something that can simply be swept under the rug and forgotten. We need 
leaders around the world to not only recognize it, but to condemn it so 
the world can truly say ``Never Again.'' The United States cannot 
continue its policy of denial regarding the Armenian Genocide, and I 
encourage passage of H. Res. 252 to recognize the Armenian Genocide in 
our Nation.

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