    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [April 23, 1995]
    [Pages 578-579]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the 80th Anniversary of the Armenian Massacres
    April 23, 1995

        On this solemn day, I join with Armenians throughout the United
    States, in Armenia, and around the world in remembering the 80th
    anniversary of the Armenians who perished, victims of massacres in the
    last years of the Ottoman

    [[Page 579]]

    Empire. Their loss is our loss, their courage a testament to mankind's
    indomitable spirit.
        It is this spirit that kept the hope of Armenians alive through the
    centuries of persecution. It is this spirit that lives today in the
    hearts of all Armenians, in their church, in their language, in their
    culture. And it is this spirit that underpins the remarkable resilience
    and courage of Armenians around the world. The Armenian-American
    community, now nearly one million strong, has made enormous
    contributions to America. Now, with the emergence of an independent
    Armenia, the Armenian people are bringing the same determination to
    building democracy and a modern economy in their native land.
        Even as we commemorate the past--which we must never forget--we
    commit ourselves today to Armenia's future as an independent and
    prosperous nation, at peace with its neighbors and with close ties to
    the West. That is why the United States has provided more than $445
    million in assistance to alleviate humanitarian needs and support
    democratic and economic reform. I will do everything in my power to
    preserve assistance levels for Armenia.
        I continue to be deeply concerned about the conflict in the region
    surrounding Armenia. The terrible effects of this war have been felt
    throughout the Caucasus: tens of thousands have died, more than a
    million have been displaced, economies have been shattered, and security
    threatened. The United States is committed to working with the
    Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to encourage
    Armenia and Azerbaijan to move beyond their cease-fire to a lasting
    political settlement. I plan to nominate a Special Negotiator for
    Nagorno-Karabakh at the rank of Ambassador to advance those
    negotiations. And I pledge United States support of OSCE efforts to back
    that settlement with a peacekeeping force.
        The U.S. also seeks to encourage the regional cooperation that will
    build prosperity and reinforce peace. I commend the recent decision of
    the Government of Turkey to open air corridors to Armenia, which will
    make assistance delivery faster, cheaper, and more reliable. We had
    urged that it do so and hope this is a first step toward lifting other
    blockades in the region, initially for humanitarian deliveries and then
    overall. Open borders would help create the conditions needed for
    economic recovery and development, including construction of a Caspian
    oil pipeline through the Caucasus to Turkey, which is a key to long-term
    prosperity in the region.
        The administration's efforts, assistance in support of reform,
    reinforced efforts toward peace settlement, building broad regional
    cooperation and encouraging the development of a Caspian oil pipeline
    through the Caucasus to Turkey, represent the key building blocks of
    U.S. policy to support the development of an independent and prosperous
    Armenia.
        On this 80th anniversary of the Armenian massacres, I call upon all
    people to work to prevent future acts of such inhumanity. And as we
    remember the past, let us also rededicate ourselves to building a
    democratic Armenia of prosperity and lasting peace.