[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            91ST ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2006

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in commemorating 
the 91st annual observance of the Armenian Genocide.
  Ninety-one years ago, there began a vast human tragedy with the 
execution of some 300 Armenian leaders, professionals and 
intellectuals. Over the next eight years, a brutal campaign of genocide 
against the Armenian people was carried out in the Ottoman Empire, 
leading to the deaths of over 1.5 million people and the deporting of 
another 500,000.
  Decade after decade there has been a failure to acknowledge the 
Armenian genocide. Today, while there is increased pressure on Turkey 
to acknowledge the facts of history, and some new voices have been 
raised to urge this acknowledgement, there remain efforts to evade this 
dark chapter in human history, as evidenced by a book recently sent to 
Congressional offices.
  So this is the time for all of us who have been joining in the 
commemoration of the Armenian Genocide to continue to speak out. It is 
vital and urgent for us to insist that there be a universal 
participation in remembering the victims. We must say, to those who 
hesitate, our humanity can settle for nothing less.