[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15449-15450]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO EDUARDO EURNEKIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG LAMBORN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Eduardo 
Eurnekian, a truly remarkable man.
  As Chairman of the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF), 
Mr. Eurnekian has made a significant contribution to preserving and 
promoting the extraordinary legacy of Raoul Wallenberg, the WWII 
Swedish diplomat who is credited with saving scores of Jews in Budapest 
from the horrors of the Holocaust. Raoul Wallenberg disappeared on 
January 17, 1945 when he went to meet with members of the Soviet Army 
to discuss the future of the Jewish refugees in Hungary. Imprisoned by 
the Stalinist regime along with his loyal driver, Vilmos Langfelder, 
his fate and whereabouts, now 70 years later, remain shrouded in 
mystery.
  In 1981, our nation honored Raoul Wallenberg by making him an 
Honorary Citizen of the United States, only the second person to be so 
honored (following Winston Churchill). More recently, on July 9, 2014, 
the U.S. Congress presented him the Congressional Gold Medal in 
recognition of his humanitarian service.
  Under the leadership of Mr. Eurnekian and in collaboration with IRWF 
founder Baruch Tenembaum (who was honored by this House on September 
10, 2003), the IRWF has worked tirelessly to preserve and promote the 
legacy of the hero who became a victim himself. It has been reaching 
out to tens of thousands of young people around the world, instilling 
Raoul's spirit of civic courage and solidarity in their hearts and 
minds.
  Just recently, Mr. Eurnekian spearheaded the events celebrating the 
award of the Congressional Gold Medal to Raoul Wallenberg. Dozens of 
Members of Congress had the opportunity to learn about the IRWF and to 
pay tribute to its outstanding work at a luncheon ceremony prior to the 
moving award presentation in the Capitol Rotunda. Mr. Eurnekian was 
there presented with the ``Guardian of the Rescuer's Legacy,'' a 
magnificent statue symbolizing peace and solidarity that was created by 
the renowned artist Frank Meisler.
  In an effort to raise global awareness of Raoul Wallenberg, and to 
pay tribute to world leaders who treasure the values of the Swedish 
hero, Mr. Eurnekian and Mr. Tenembaum have bestowed the Raoul 
Wallenberg Centennial Medal upon many distinguished individuals 
throughout the world. These include the former British PM Gordon Brown, 
the former President of Slovakia Ivo Gasparovic, the President of the 
European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, the former Secretary of Pope 
John XXIII Cardinal Loris Capovilla, the legendary British savior Sir 
Nicholas Winton, the President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos 
Papoulias, the Former Minister of Justice of Canada and long-time 
Wallenberg supporter and prominent human rights activist Professor 
Irwin Cotler.
  The IRWF strives to raise awareness of Raoul Wallenberg's legacy and 
fate, urging international leaders to raise their voices. President 
Obama did so in his video address of April 19, 2012 entitled 
``Remembering and Honoring Courage.'' Similarly, former Australian PM 
Julia Gillard paid tribute in a video address devoted to the Swedish 
diplomat.
  Under Mr. Eurnekian's leadership, the IRWF has not shied away from 
difficult legal challenges. On August 5, 2014, after a protracted five-
year-long battle, the Argentinean Supreme Court overturned a lower 
court judgment in favor of the grandson of an Argentinean diplomat, 
Luis Hernan Irigoyen, who had been stationed at the Argentine Embassy 
in Berlin during the Nazi regime. After the IRWF accused the diplomat 
of letting Argentine Jews die, the diplomat's grandson sued IRWF for 
damages. The high court decided that the IRWF will not have to idemnify 
the diplomat's grandson and that ``even the harshest criticism has 
Constitutional Protection.'' Years before this unprecedented ruling, 
following a campaign by the IRWF, the then-Foreign Minister of 
Argentina, Mr. Rafael Bielsa, ordered the removal of a plaque that was 
placed inside the Argentine Chancellery in homage to 12 Argentine 
diplomats (Irigoyen was among them) that allegedly worked in favor of 
persecuted Jews. The IRWF proved that this honor was undeserved.
  Mr. Eurnekian is an internationally recognized entrepreneur. He is 
CEO and President of Corporacion America, whose diverse holdings 
include management of more than 50 airports, infrastructure 
development, mining, financial services, energy, agricultural, wine and 
nano-technology and microchip production. He serves as First Vice-
President of the Argentinean Chamber of Commerce and is a Member of the 
Executive Board of the International Chamber of Commerce.
  His work has earned him a variety of prestigious awards and prizes, 
including the following: ``Businessman of the Year'' from (Argentina 
1995); ``Leonardo Award'' from the Italian Government (1999); ``Man of 
the Year'' from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (2010); ``Knight 
of Holy Etchmiadzin Order'' from the Catholicos of all Armenians, His 
Holiness Karekin II (2011); ``Certificate of Appreciation'' from UNDP 
for his role as an ``advocate for sustainable development'' in Armenia 
(2012); ``Business for Peace Award'' from the Oslo Business for Peace 
Foundation (2012); ``Businessman of the Year'' from CAMACOL--Latin 
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (2012); and ``Businessman of the 
Year--Services Category'' from the Argentine Businessmen Association 
(2012). In spite of his many commitments, Mr. Eurnekian did not 
hesitate for a single moment when offered the challenge to lead the 
IRWF--and he has led with tireless commitment, passion and ingenuity.

[[Page 15450]]

  Now 82 years old, Eduardo Eurnekian continues his activism with 
passion and vigor. Although he has never received any compensation for 
his work on behalf of the IRWF, he has generously contributed his own 
funds to the mission of this important organization, whose membership 
includes more than 300 heads of state, Nobel Prize laureates and 
accomplished individuals from all walks of life. Indeed, the former 
Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, joined its ranks 
many years ago, and the IRWF is honored to include him, now known as 
Pope Francis, in its membership.
  Together with Baruch Tenembaum and in the spirit of the IRWF, Mr. 
Eurnekian is now working to create an Armenian cultural center in 
Yerevan, which will highlight the unparalleled contribution of the 
Armenian diaspora to the world during the last century in the fields of 
arts, science, culture, social welfare and business.
  I am honored to pay tribute and express my gratitude and appreciation 
to Eduardo Eurnekian, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
congratulating him on his outstanding achievements.

                          ____________________