[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7047-7048]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 84TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as I have for the past 6 
years, to acknowledge the atrocities suffered by the Armenian people at 
the hands of the Ottoman Turks over 84 years ago. This Saturday, April 
24, will mark the 84th anniversary of the Armenian

[[Page 7048]]

Genocide, the very first genocide of the 20th century. On that date, 
more than 200 Armenian religious, political and intellectual leaders 
were massacred in Turkey. It is important that we take this time to 
remember one of the greatest tragedies that humankind has ever 
witnessed.
  Little did anyone know that April 24, 1915, would signify the 
beginning of a Turkish campaign to eliminate the Armenian people, 
eliminate them from the face of the Earth. Over the following 8 years, 
1.5 million Armenians perished and more than 500,000 were exiled from 
their homes. Armenian civilization, one of the oldest civilizations, 
virtually ceased to exist. Of course, that was the Turkish plan. 
Unfortunately the Armenian Genocide is not as well-known in history as 
it deserves to be.
  Little attention was paid to this tragic episode in history by the 
victorious allied powers at the end of World War I, or by historians. 
So much of it had faded into our painful memories, and many people are 
beginning to forget what occurred in those terrible times. Even worse, 
as time passes by and people are distracted and distanced from the 
atrocities, naysayers and revisionists may prevail.
  In fact, some might say it is a waste of time to continue fighting to 
get recognition for this, the first genocide of the 20th century. Mr. 
Speaker, I strongly disagree. This fight is not a waste of time. I 
believe it is a battle worth fighting, one where we have already made 
great strides. We are making great leaps forward in educating people as 
to what really occurred to the Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman 
Turks, and also what is really happening with the widespread network of 
denials since the genocide.
  Still, because of the failure of some nations to acknowledge this 
horrible tragedy, the Turkish crimes have remained unpunished. An 
international court has yet to condemn the holocaust of an entire 
Nation. This impunity has permitted the Turks to repeat similar crimes 
against the Greek inhabitants of Asia Minor, the Syrian orthodox people 
and, recently, the people living in Cyprus.
  Fortunately, despite this unspeakable tragedy committed 84 years ago, 
Armenians today remain a proud, dignified and compassionate people. 
Despite the unmerciful efforts of the Turks, Armenian civilization 
lives on and thrives today.
  It lives on in the Independent Republic of Armenia, and it lives on 
in communities throughout America, particularly in my home State of 
California. In fact, every proud Armenian is the product of generations 
of perseverance, courage and hope, hope always for a better tomorrow.
  So today, we honor the innocent Armenians who tragically lost their 
lives. Today we acknowledge that the Ottoman Turks committed genocide 
against the Armenian people.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day when the world says in one 
united voice, we remember Armenian genocide, and it will never be 
repeated. Until that day comes, I will continue to remind the House of 
Representatives that it is our responsibility to learn from the past, 
and it is our responsibility to prevent any such atrocity in the 
future.

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