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April 25, 2013 Thursday
Washington: SPEECH OF HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013
Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, parev, pari yegak (Hello, welcome!).
I am very proud to represent Watertown, Massachusetts in Congress.
Watertown has the third highest percentage of Armenian-Americans of
any community in the Nation. I
[Page: E528] GPO's PDF
am also a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
led by Representatives Pallone and Grimm.
The Armenian-American community is one of the greatest success stories
in this Nation's history. I was meeting recently with a group of my
Armenian-American constituents to discuss some of the current issues
affecting US-Armenian relations and I commented that in my experience,
I have never met an unsuccessful Armenian!
As an Irish-American, I know what it is like to come from a troubled
land. My grandfather and grandmother came to Boston from Ireland in
1902. Just as the core of the Irish-American community was formed out
of the refugees of the Potato famine and the Irish Civil War, the core
of the Armenian-American community was formed from those who fled the
Genocide and their descendants.
Today, we remember and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, the first of
many genocides we saw in the 20th Century. The Armenian Genocide that
began in 1915 is sometimes called the ``forgotten genocide,'' but we
must never forget!
I was proud to be present at the opening of the Armenian Heritage Park
in Boston in May of last year. This beautiful park and its haunting
monument are a lasting testament to the 1.5 million Armenians who were
slaughtered by the Ottoman Empire. This monument reminds us that we
must be ever vigilant and not allow such horrors to occur again.
In order to prevent future genocides, however, we must recognize those
of the past. For many years the U.S. House of Representatives has had
before it a resolution which clearly affirmed that the Armenian
Genocide did occur.
I have been a strong supporter and vocal cosponsor of this resolution
in every Congress, and I remain so today.
Almost one-hundred years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet
the suffering will continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as
long as the world allows denial to prevail.
Already, 43 states and 22 nations have officially recognized the
Armenian Genocide, and it is long overdue for the United States to do
the same.
Unfortunately, the Republic of Armenia's challenges have continued
even after it gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
In the face of ongoing blockades from Turkey and Azerbaijan, the
United States must provide assistance to Armenia while working to
reestablish the Turkish government's commitment to normalized
relations in order to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus
region. I strongly support these efforts.
The Armenian people are true survivors. Despite the reappearing themes
of invasions and land loss that the Armenians have dealt with for over
3,000 years, coupled with the loss of between one-half and
three-quarters of their population in the early 20th century, the
people of Armenia have prevailed.
The journey of the Armenian people continues today, with our shared
responsibility to ensure that the Armenian people are able to build
their own, independent and prosperous future.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Armenian-American
community to address the issues facing this longtime friend and
important ally of the United States. Together we can continue to build
something positive, something hopeful, something good for the
future--an Armenia that is respected and honored by its allies and
neighbors.
And this cannot come without universal acknowledgement of the horror
that was the Armenian Genocide.
Shnorhagal em (Thank you).
For more information please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/
From: Baghdasarian
April 25, 2013 Thursday
Washington: SPEECH OF HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013
Washington
The Library of Congress, The Government of USA has issued the following Speech:
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, parev, pari yegak (Hello, welcome!).
I am very proud to represent Watertown, Massachusetts in Congress.
Watertown has the third highest percentage of Armenian-Americans of
any community in the Nation. I
[Page: E528] GPO's PDF
am also a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues
led by Representatives Pallone and Grimm.
The Armenian-American community is one of the greatest success stories
in this Nation's history. I was meeting recently with a group of my
Armenian-American constituents to discuss some of the current issues
affecting US-Armenian relations and I commented that in my experience,
I have never met an unsuccessful Armenian!
As an Irish-American, I know what it is like to come from a troubled
land. My grandfather and grandmother came to Boston from Ireland in
1902. Just as the core of the Irish-American community was formed out
of the refugees of the Potato famine and the Irish Civil War, the core
of the Armenian-American community was formed from those who fled the
Genocide and their descendants.
Today, we remember and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, the first of
many genocides we saw in the 20th Century. The Armenian Genocide that
began in 1915 is sometimes called the ``forgotten genocide,'' but we
must never forget!
I was proud to be present at the opening of the Armenian Heritage Park
in Boston in May of last year. This beautiful park and its haunting
monument are a lasting testament to the 1.5 million Armenians who were
slaughtered by the Ottoman Empire. This monument reminds us that we
must be ever vigilant and not allow such horrors to occur again.
In order to prevent future genocides, however, we must recognize those
of the past. For many years the U.S. House of Representatives has had
before it a resolution which clearly affirmed that the Armenian
Genocide did occur.
I have been a strong supporter and vocal cosponsor of this resolution
in every Congress, and I remain so today.
Almost one-hundred years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet
the suffering will continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as
long as the world allows denial to prevail.
Already, 43 states and 22 nations have officially recognized the
Armenian Genocide, and it is long overdue for the United States to do
the same.
Unfortunately, the Republic of Armenia's challenges have continued
even after it gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
In the face of ongoing blockades from Turkey and Azerbaijan, the
United States must provide assistance to Armenia while working to
reestablish the Turkish government's commitment to normalized
relations in order to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus
region. I strongly support these efforts.
The Armenian people are true survivors. Despite the reappearing themes
of invasions and land loss that the Armenians have dealt with for over
3,000 years, coupled with the loss of between one-half and
three-quarters of their population in the early 20th century, the
people of Armenia have prevailed.
The journey of the Armenian people continues today, with our shared
responsibility to ensure that the Armenian people are able to build
their own, independent and prosperous future.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Armenian-American
community to address the issues facing this longtime friend and
important ally of the United States. Together we can continue to build
something positive, something hopeful, something good for the
future--an Armenia that is respected and honored by its allies and
neighbors.
And this cannot come without universal acknowledgement of the horror
that was the Armenian Genocide.
Shnorhagal em (Thank you).
For more information please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov/
From: Baghdasarian