[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7983]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN F. TIERNEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2004

  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I join my fellow members of the 
Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues, and a large number of my 
colleagues, as we rightfully recognize, remember, and renounce the 
Armenian genocide.
  I rise today to speak on one of the most unspeakable acts that ever 
came to pass. Beginning in 1915, innocent and unsuspecting Armenians of 
all ages were led by Ottoman Empire officials from their villages to 
their brutal death. Such atrocities endured for eight years. By 1923, 
an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were massacred.
  While this tragedy of incomprehensible proportions was being 
perpetrated, the world stood idle. Prominent nations remained silent in 
the face of skyrocketing death tolls in this corner of Europe. Today 
and throughout this month, as we reflect and remember the victims of 
the Armenian genocide, we must also repudiate our unresponsiveness to 
this horrible mass murder.
  Lastly, on behalf of the Sixth District of Massachusetts, I would 
like to praise the commitment and perseverance of Armenian-Americans, 
who have tirelessly labored to ensure that all know the tragic story 
and great sorrow of their people. Their efforts in this regard are 
laudable and serve as the best legacy they can leave to succeeding 
generations.

                          ____________________