[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 61 (Thursday, April 26, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NINETY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2012

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, parev, pari yegak (Hello, welcome.)
  Thank you to the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian 
Assembly, the Armenian Caucus, the Embassy of Armenia, and the Office 
of Nagorno Karabakh for organizing this very important event.
  I would also like to give a special thanks to all of the Armenian 
Genocide survivors and their families who are here tonight.
  I am very proud to represent the 7th district of Massachusetts 
because my district includes the community with the third highest 
percentage of Armenian-Americans in the Nation.
  We have gathered today to remember and commemorate the Armenian 
Genocide, one of the darkest chapters of World War I, and the first of 
many genocides we saw in the 20th century.
  Ninety-seven years ago, the Armenian Genocide was initiated when 
hundreds of Armenian political, religious, and intellectual leaders 
were arrested in Constantinople and then deported and murdered. 
Unfortunately, these terrible atrocities that occurred in the capital 
of the Ottoman Empire only represented the beginning of the suffering 
inflicted on the Armenian people.
  Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Empire carried out the deportation 
of nearly 2 million Armenians from their homes, resulting in the deaths 
of 1.5 million innocent children, women and men.
  This must never happen again.
  In order to prevent future genocides, we must recognize those of the 
past. For many years the House has had before it a resolution which 
clearly affirms the United States record on the Armenian Genocide.
  I have been a strong supporter and vocal cosponsor of this resolution 
in every Congress, and I remain so today.
  Almost one-hundred years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet 
the suffering will continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as 
long as the world allows denial to prevail.
  Already, 43 states and 22 nations have officially recognized the 
Armenian Genocide, and it is long overdue for the United States to do 
the same.
  Unfortunately, the Republic of Armenia's challenges continue even 
after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
  In the face of ongoing blockades from Turkey and Azerbaijan, the 
United States must provide assistance to Armenia while working to 
reestablish the Turkish government's commitment to normalized relations 
in order to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus region. I 
strongly support these efforts.
  The Armenian people are true survivors. Despite the reappearing 
themes of invasions and land loss that the Armenians have dealt with 
for over 3,000 years, coupled with the loss of between one-half and 
three-quarters of their population in the early 20th century, the 
people of Armenia have prevailed.
  In fact, I have a wonderful Armenian intern in my office, Victoria 
Hines. Victoria's grandmother was born on a train in Moscow during her 
family's journey to America after her mother hid her father from the 
Ottoman Turks, allowing for their escape.
  Despite watching their friends and even their own first-born perish 
in the genocide, the Tutunjian family, along with the rest of the 
Armenian people, view the stories of their families as reminders of the 
importance of preserving the fight for recognition.
  The journey of the Armenian people continues today, with our shared 
responsibility to ensure that the Armenian people are able to build 
their own independent and prosperous future.
  I look forward to continuing to work with the Armenian-American 
community to address the issues facing this longtime friend and 
important ally of the United States. Together we can build something 
positive, something hopeful, something good for the future--an Armenia 
that is respected and honored by its allies and neighbors.
  And this cannot come without universal acknowledgement of the horror 
that was the Armenian Genocide.

                          ____________________