[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6136]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               98TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 26, 2013

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise toady to commemorate the 98th 
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
  For far too long, too many have failed to properly acknowledge this 
tragedy, let alone commemorate it and honor the lives of its victims. 
Indeed, despite reams of historical evidence, the actions of the 
Ottoman Empire 98 years ago have often been labeled something other 
than what they actually were: genocide.
  In 1915, the government of the Ottoman Empire started a vicious and 
systematic campaign of genocide against the Armenian people. What began 
with the killing of 300 Armenian leaders ultimately resulted in the 
deaths of one and a half million people and the forced exile of another 
500,000.
  The chilling scale of this tragedy demands that we continue to 
commemorate the Armenian Genocide, and remember those who were lost. 
Throughout my time in Congress, I have cosponsored House resolutions 
that have affirmed the U.S. record regarding the true nature of this 
ethnic extermination, and honored its victims and survivors.
  We must do all we can to ensure that the historical record contains 
the absolute truth--a commitment that will help fight against a sense 
of impunity. Through recognition and remembrance of the Armenian 
Genocide, we raise awareness of ``man's inhumanity to man,'' helping to 
stop similar tragedies from happening in the future.
  I respectfully request that all my colleagues join me today in 
honoring the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

                          ____________________