[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5551]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION OF THE 1915 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). Under a 
previous order of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April 24th, 1915 as 
one of the darkest days of the 20th century. On this day 300 Armenian 
leaders, writers, religious figures and professionals in Constantinople 
were gathered together, deported, and brutally murdered. Thousands of 
Armenian citizens were dragged out of their homes and murdered in the 
streets. What few citizens remained were taken from their communities 
and marched off to concentration camps in the desert, where most died 
of starvation and thirst. The Ottoman Empire systematically deprived 
Armenians of their homes, property, freedom, and ultimately, their 
lives. By 1923, 1.5 million Armenian citizens had been murdered, while 
half a million had been deported.
  Today, we must overcome the obstacle of denial. The Armenian Genocide 
is a historical fact. The United States and the international community 
must overcome this denial and recognize the horror that took place 
between 1915 and 1923.
  The Armenian people have spent the last ten years courageously 
establishing an Independent Republic of Armenia. These efforts are a 
testament to the strength and character of the Armenian people. I 
strongly support the United States' continued efforts with Armenia to 
ensure a safe and stabile environment in the Caucasus region.
  Today, I join my colleagues in recognizing the Armenian genocide of 
1915, and while this is indeed a day of mourning, we must also take 
this opportunity to celebrate Armenia's commitment towards democracy in 
the face of adversity.

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