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CR: Armenian Genocide - Rep. Visclosky

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  • CR: Armenian Genocide - Rep. Visclosky

    ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

    ______


    HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

    of indiana

    in the house of representatives

    Tuesday, April 27, 2004

    Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn memorial to the
    estimated 1.5 million men, women, and children who lost their lives
    during the Armenian Genocide. As in the past, I am pleased to join so
    many distinguished House colleagues on both sides of the aisle in
    ensuring that the horrors wrought upon the Armenian people are never
    repeated. On April 24, 1915, over 200 religious, political, and
    intellectual leaders of the Armenian community were brutally executed
    by the Turkish government in Istanbul. Over the course of the next 8
    years, this war of ethnic genocide against the Armenian community in
    the Ottoman Empire took the lives of over half the world's Armenian
    population. Sadly, there are some people who still deny the very
    existence of this period which saw the institutionalized slaughter of
    the Armenian people and dismantling of Armenian culture. To those who
    would question these events, I point to the numerous reports contained
    in the U.S. National Archives detailing the process that
    systematically decimated the Armenian population of the Ottoman
    Empire. However, old records are too easily forgotten--and
    dismissed. That is why we come together every year at this time: to
    remember in words what some may wish to file away in archives. This
    genocide did take place, and these lives were taken. That memory must
    keep us forever vigilant in our efforts to prevent these atrocities
    from ever happening again. I am proud to note that Armenian
    immigrants found, in the United States, a country where their culture
    could take root and thrive. Most Armenians in America are children or
    grandchildren of the survivors, although there are still survivors
    among us. In my district in Northwest Indiana, a vibrant
    Armenian-American community has developed and strong ties to Armenia
    continue to flourish. My predecessor in the House, the late Adam
    Benjamin, was of Armenian heritage, and his distinguished service in
    the House serves as an example to the entire Northwest Indiana
    community. Over the years, members of the Armenian- American community
    throughout the United States have contributed millions of dollars and
    countless hours of their time to various Armenian causes. Of
    particular note are Mrs. Vicki Hovanessian and her husband, Dr. Raffy
    Hovanessian, residents of Indiana's First Congressional District, who
    have continually worked to improve the quality of life in Armenia, as
    well as in Northwest Indiana. Three other Armenian-American families
    in my congressional district, Dr. Aram and Mrs. Seta Semerdjian,
    Dr. Heratch and Mrs. Sonya Doumanian, and Dr. Ara and Mrs. Rosy
    Yeretsian, have also contributed greatly toward charitable works in
    the United States and Armenia. Their efforts, together with hundreds
    of other members of the Armenian-American community, have helped to
    finance several important projects in Armenia, including the
    construction of new schools, a mammography clinic, and a crucial
    roadway connecting Armenia to Nagorno Karabagh. In the House, I have
    tried to assist the efforts of my Armenian- American constituency by
    continually supporting foreign aid to Armenia. This past year, with
    my support, Armenia received $84 million in U.S. aid to assist
    economic and military development. In addition, on April 16, 2004, I
    joined several of my colleagues in signing the letter to President
    Bush urging him to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian
    Genocide. The Armenian people have a long and proud history. In the
    fourth century, they became the first nation to embrace
    Christianity. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire was ruled by an
    organization known as the Young Turk Committee, which allied with
    Germany. Amid fighting in the Ottoman Empire's eastern Anatolian
    provinces, the historic heartland of the Christian Armenians, Ottoman
    authorities ordered the deportation and execution of all Armenians in
    the region. By the end of 1923, virtually the entire Armenian
    population of Anatolia and western Armenia had either been killed or
    deported. While it is important to keep the lessons of history in
    mind, we must also remain committed to protecting Armenia from new and
    more hostile aggressors. In the last decade, thousands of lives have
    been lost and more than a million people displaced in the struggle
    between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabagh. Even now, as we
    rise to commemorate the accomplishments of the Armenian people and
    mourn the tragedies they have suffered, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and other
    countries continue to engage in a debilitating blockade of this free
    nation. Consistently, I have testified before the Foreign Operations
    Appropriations Subcommittee on the important issue of bringing peace
    to a troubled area of the world. I continued my support for
    maintaining the level of funding for the Southern Caucasus region of
    the Independent States (IS), and of Armenia in particular. In
    addition, on February 26, 2004, I joined several of my colleagues in
    sending a letter to President Bush urging nim to ensure parity in
    military assistance between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Mr. Speaker, I
    would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Joe Knollenberg and
    Frank Pallone, for organizing this special order to commemorate the
    89th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Their efforts will not only
    help bring needed attention to this tragic period in world history,
    but also serve to remind us of our duty to protect basic human rights
    and freedoms around the world.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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