[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 18, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H1729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Dold) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank my good friend for 
raising an important issue about religious freedom. It certainly is 
critical.
  As we look at some of the atrocities that are happening around the 
world, Mr. Speaker, I want to rise today to talk about the Armenian 
genocide that happened nearly 100 years ago. This year actually marks 
the 100th anniversary.
  As the eyes of the world focus on ISIS and the brutal killings of 
innocent Christians in the Middle East, we must recognize the horrors 
of the past if we hope to avoid repeating them in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian 
genocide, during which the Ottoman Turks systematically exterminated 
over 1.5 million Armenians and Christian minorities. This genocide is a 
fact and cannot be ignored. It is settled history.
  Turkey, however, has never accepted the responsibility and has 
continued to hide behind its brutal tactics that shroud violations of 
human rights. Even as 11 of our NATO allies and 42 U.S. States have 
recognized Turkey's leading role in this atrocity, this body has yet to 
do so.
  The continued campaign of denial sets a dangerous precedent that 
makes future atrocities, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, more likely. While 
ordering his military leaders to attack Poland, Adolf Hitler 
rationalized: ``Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the 
Armenians?''
  Mr. Speaker, if we deny that these atrocities exist, we actually 
perpetuate the potential that it may happen again. We must join the 
international community to speak with a unified voice against this 
genocide.
  Our bipartisan Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution, H. 
Res. 154--just dropped--would send an unequivocal message that we will 
never forget those that were lost, nor will we tolerate human rights 
abuses of any kind.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the 100th anniversary--on 
April 24, to be specific--of the Armenian genocide. I call on our 
colleagues in the United States Congress to speak out by passing the 
Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution so that we can end the 
denial once and for all.

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