[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 24, 2013

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 98th 
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. This yearly commemoration is a 
testament to the lives and legacy of the 1.5 million Armenians who lost 
their lives, and is emblematic of our commitment to keeping the 
Armenian nation and culture alive.
  Today, as we revisit this dark period in world history, we must be 
mindful of the lessons learned from this tragedy. We have witnessed 
that blind hatred and senseless prejudice tear at the very fabric of 
our society, even today. The victims of the Armenian Genocide, the 
Holocaust, ethnic cleansings in Kosovo, Rwanda, and Sudan, and acts of 
vicious terrorism remind us of the human cost of hate. We must do 
everything in our power to prevent these kinds of senseless tragedies 
from happening again.
  We remember the past and pledge our support for ensuring a positive 
and secure future for the Armenian nation and its people. Armenians now 
live all around the world, including many in my District and throughout 
the United States. As the Ranking Member of the House State and Foreign 
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I support our yearly package of 
assistance to Armenia, including funds available for activities that 
further a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. I 
have also cosponsored legislation calling on the President to ensure 
that the foreign policy of the United States reflects appropriate 
understanding and sensitivity concerning issues related to human rights 
violations and the ethnic cleansing during the Armenian Genocide. 
Finally, as an active member of the Armenian Caucus, it is my pleasure 
to continue working on behalf of the U.S.-Armenia relationship in 
Congress.
  In honoring the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, we 
must commit to building a strong, prosperous, and stable Armenia. I am 
proud to be a partner in this effort and thank my colleagues who have 
also pledged their support.

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