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    Categories: 2018

Washington: 103rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide (Senate – April 23, 2018)

Impact News Service
 Tuesday


Washington: 103RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE (Senate - April 23, 2018)


Washington: The Library of Congress, The Government  of USA has issued
the following house proceeding:

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, this week we solemnly observe the 103rd
anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Over a century ago, one of the
greatest tragedies of the 20th century began when the Young Turk
leaders of the Ottoman Empire executed more than 200 prominent
Armenians.

What followed was an 8-year systematic campaign of oppression and
massacre. By 1923, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed, and
over a half a million survivors were exiled. These atrocities affected
the lives of every Armenian living in Asia Minor and, indeed, across
the globe. The U.S Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during this dark
time, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., unsuccessfully pleaded with President
Wilson to take action and later remembered the events of the genocide,
saying, ``I am confident that the whole history of the human race
contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres and
persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared to
the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915.'' Clearly, the suffering
of the Armenian people must never be forgotten. The survivors of the
Armenian genocide, however, persevered due to their unbreakable spirit
and steadfast resolve and went on to greatly contribute to the lands
in which they found new homes and communities, including the United
States. That is why we not only commemorate this grave tragedy each
year, but we also take this moment to celebrate the traditions, the
contributions, as well as the bright future of the Armenian people.
Indeed, my home State of Rhode Island continues to be enriched by our
strong and vibrant Armenian-American community. This genocide has been
denied for far too long. To honor the memory of this tragedy, I have
joined with several of my colleagues on resolutions over the years to
encourage the U.S to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. As we
remember the past, we remain committed to forging a brighter future.
We must continue to guard against hatred and oppression so that we can
prevent such crimes against humanity. As ranking member on the Senate
Armed Services Committee, I remain committed to supporting assistance
to Armenia to strengthen security, promote economic growth, and foster
democratic reforms and development. We must find a way to come
together to recognize the truth of what happened and to provide
unwavering support and assistance to those facing persecution today.

Alex Jidarian: