[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E527-E528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE NINETY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 2013

  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, parev, pari yegak (Hello, welcome!).
  I am very proud to represent Watertown, Massachusetts in Congress. 
Watertown has the third highest percentage of Armenian-Americans of any 
community in the Nation. I

[[Page E528]]

am also a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues 
led by Representatives Pallone and Grimm.
  The Armenian-American community is one of the greatest success 
stories in this Nation's history. I was meeting recently with a group 
of my Armenian-American constituents to discuss some of the current 
issues affecting US-Armenian relations and I commented that in my 
experience, I have never met an unsuccessful Armenian!
  As an Irish-American, I know what it is like to come from a troubled 
land. My grandfather and grandmother came to Boston from Ireland in 
1902. Just as the core of the Irish-American community was formed out 
of the refugees of the Potato famine and the Irish Civil War, the core 
of the Armenian-American community was formed from those who fled the 
Genocide and their descendants.
  Today, we remember and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, the first 
of many genocides we saw in the 20th Century. The Armenian Genocide 
that began in 1915 is sometimes called the ``forgotten genocide,'' but 
we must never forget!
  I was proud to be present at the opening of the Armenian Heritage 
Park in Boston in May of last year. This beautiful park and its 
haunting monument are a lasting testament to the 1.5 million Armenians 
who were slaughtered by the Ottoman Empire. This monument reminds us 
that we must be ever vigilant and not allow such horrors to occur 
again.
  In order to prevent future genocides, however, we must recognize 
those of the past. For many years the U.S. House of Representatives has 
had before it a resolution which clearly affirmed that the Armenian 
Genocide did occur.
  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 have continued 
even after it gained 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.
  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 continue to 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.
  Shnorhagal em (Thank you).

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