Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2007
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS MARK 92ND ANNIVERSARY
OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN FLOOR SPEECHES
WASHINGTON, DC – Senators and Representatives joined Armenians
around the world this week in commemorating the 92nd anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide in statements on the floors of their
respective chambers of Congress, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
A major theme in their remarks was the importance of helping to end
U.S. complicity in Turkey’s continued campaign of Genocide denial
by passing the Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.106 and
H.Res.106). Several called specifically for decisive U.S. and
international action to end the genocide currently taking place in
Darfur, noting that Turkey’s ability to commit genocide with
impunity has set a dangerous precedent that has encouraged other
genocides.
Excerpts from the Senate and House floor speeches follow:
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) "In order for democracy and human
rights to flourish, we must not support efforts to rewrite and deny
history. In the United States, we strive to make human rights a
fundamental component of our democracy. It is long overdue for our
nation to demand that the truth be told. We must recognize the
Armenian genocide in the name of democracy, fairness and human
rights … It is important that we recognize the Armenian genocide
while its survivors are still with us to tell their stories. We
must recognize the genocide for the survivors. We must recognize
the genocide because it is the right thing to do. We must recognize
the Armenian genocide to help shed light on the darkness and move
toward a more humane world."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) "California is home to many of the
descendants of the genocide’s survivors, who immigrated to the
United States and, over the course of a few decades, built strong
and vibrant communities. Working closely with the Armenian –
American community over my many years in public service, I know how
alive and painful this issue continues to be for many Armenian
Americans… Let there be no mistake. The ongoing genocide in
Darfur, carried out by the Government of Sudan and its Janjaweed
militias, traces its roots to the silence and quiescence of the
international community during previous episodes of genocide and
ethnic cleansing, including the Armenian genocide."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) "Because I believe we cannot prevent
future genocide unless we recognize past genocide, I am a sponsor
of Senate Resolution 106, which calls upon the President to ensure
that this Nation’s foreign policy reflects appropriate
understanding and sensitivity concerning human rights, ethnic
cleansing, and genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to
the Armenian genocide… As many as one and a half million
Armenians lost their lives during this systematic campaign of
ethnic cleansing conducted in Turkey while the world was
preoccupied by the First World War and its aftermath. That the
major powers, including the United States, did not prevent or
intervene at any point to stop this killing represents one of
twentieth century’s ugliest stains on humanity."
Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) "Today, as a proud supporter of S. Res 106,
legislation officially recognizing the Armenian genocide , I urge
the President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United
States reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity
concerning issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and
genocide documented in the U.S. record relating to the Armenian
genocide . Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stated over 50 years after
the Armenian genocide that: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere… Whatever affects one directly, affects all
indirectly.’ The time has come to officially recognize the Armenian
genocide… Menk panav chenk mornar. We will never forget."
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) – "Mr. Speaker, if America is going to
live up to the standards we set for ourselves, and continue to lead
the world in affirming human rights everywhere, we need to finally
stand up and recognize the tragic events that began in 1915 for
what they were: the systematic elimination of a people… And the
fact of the matter is that when some of my colleagues say to me,
‘Well, why do you need to bring up something that occurred 92 years
ago,’ I say, ‘Because by denying this, the Turkish Government
continues to perpetrate genocide or oppression of its minorities.’"
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA): "Opponents take issue with the timing of
the [Genocide] resolution and argue that Turkey is making progress
with recognizing the dark chapters of its history. This claim lost
all credibility when Orhan Pamuk, Turkey’s Nobel Prize winning
author was brought up on charges for ‘insulting Turkishness’ for
alluding to the genocide, and Turkish Armenian publisher Hrant Dink
was gunned down outside his office in Istanbul earlier this year.
Yet some opponents go even further, such as a former Ambassador to
Turkey who argued that the time may never be right for America to
comment "on another’s history or morality." Such a ludicrous
policy would condemn Congress to silence on a host of human rights
abuses around the world. After more than ninety years and with only
a few survivors left, if the time is not right now to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, when will it be?"
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) – "On April 24, 1915, 300 Armenian leaders
were rounded up and deported and killed under the orders from the
young Turk Government. And so began the genocide that lasted for 7
years, resulting in an estimated over 1.5 million Armenian deaths.
To this day, unfortunately, the Turkish Government denies that this
occurred…Ladies and gentlemen, Members of the House, I just
returned from Darfur with a group of our colleagues 2 weeks ago.
Over 450,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in
Darfur; yet government officials claim there in Darfur and Sudan
that there is no genocide, that the situation is overblown.
Yesterday Rwanda, today Darfur. And we can remember the Holocaust.
Clearly, silence is genocide’s best ally. It is time that the
Congress end this silence and pass the Armenian genocide
resolution."
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) – "As the first genocide of the 21st
century–this time in Darfur–began to take shape, the world again
hesitated, this time to debate for months the definition of
genocide, as thousands died and thousands more were displaced.
Today, 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur and 2.5 million
driven from their homes. And so, I rise Mr. Speaker not only to
acknowledge and remember the horrific events that befell the
Armenian people at the dawn of the last century, but also to
highlight the horrific events occurring one hundred years later in
Darfur at the dawn of this century… For the past few years, as
the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approached, I hoped that
year would be the year a solution to the crisis would come. But,
this year, instead of speaking of how the lessons of the Armenian
Genocide helped unite the world around a solution for Darfur, I can
only report of ongoing suffering and continued killings."
Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) "Raphael Lemkin, who coined the
term ‘genocide’ in 1944, and who was the earliest proponent of the
United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
Genocide, invoked the Armenian case as a definitive example of
genocide in the 20th century. The time is now for the
Administration to describe what occurred as a genocide. There is no
option for continued denial… Now more than ever, as the world is
gripped by unrest and terrorism, the memory of the Armenian
Genocide underscores our responsibility to help convey our
cherished traditions of respect for fundamental human rights and
opposition to mass slaughter."
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) "I have always supported the Armenian
community. In 2003, I had the opportunity to visit Armenia and to
plant a tree at the Genocide memorial. We must never forget the
horrors that took place 92 years ago. Let us never forget the 1.5
minion Armenians who perished in 1915 and 1916. We know such mass
murder is not a tragedy from a distant past, but a continuation of
the failing to recognize these barbaric acts before they are
executed."
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) "The writer Milan Kundera once wrote
that ‘The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory
against forgetting.’ There are those that would deny the Armenian
Genocide… In commemorating the Armenian Genocide we collectively
engage in that struggle of memory against forgetting… to reaffirm
our commitment to prevent such things from ever happening again,
and to strive towards making a better future for the Armenian
people."
Rep. James R. Langevin (D-RI) "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to
commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Our
voices, as well as those of Armenian -Americans across the Nation,
are essential in the effort to bring needed attention to such a
historic tragedy. The Armenian -American community has made
tremendous contributions to our country, and their efforts and
passion will help ensure that those who lost their lives will not
be forgotten… I will keep fighting to ensure that the Armenian
Genocide is appropriately recognized."
Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) "Once the genocide ended, many
survivors rose above their anguish and terrible experiences to
rebuild their lives. Armenian communities began to flourish as
numerous immigrants found a new home here in the United States, as
well as in my home state of California. Even though their
communities discovered solace and success in America, the scars of
genocide remain deeply embedded in their history and in our
conscience… Together we can educate, commemorate, remember, and
stand united in promoting a clear message that the United States
does not condone, nor does it tolerate acts of genocide."
Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) "I join with the chorus of voices
that grows louder with each passing year. We simply will not allow
ice planned elimination of an entire people to remain in the
shadows of history. The Armenian Genocide must be acknowledged,
studied, and never, ever allowed to happen again… American tax
dollars should not be used to support efforts to isolate Armenia,
and these provisions would prevent that by ensuring that U.S. funds
are not used to support the construction of a new railway that
bypasses Armenia. A railway already exists that connects the
nations of Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, but because it crosses
Armenia, an expensive and unnecessary new railway had been
proposed. Allowing the exclusion of Armenia from important
transportation routes would stymie the emergence of this region as
an important East-West trade corridor. It is in our economic and
security interests to ensure that the aggression against Armenia
comes to an end."
Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D-NY) – "From these ashes [of the
Genocide] arose hope and promise in 1991 – and I was blessed to see
it. I was one of the four international observers from the United
States Congress to monitor Armenia’s independence referendum. I
went to the communities in the northern part of Armenia, and I
watched in awe as 95 percent of the people over the age of 18 went
out and voted… What a great thrill it was to join them the next
day in the streets of Yerevan when they were celebrating their
great victory. Ninety-eight percent of the people who voted cast
their ballots in favor of independence. It was a wonderful
experience to be there with them when they danced and sang and
shouted, ‘Ketse azat ankakh Hayastan’– long live free and
independent Armenia! That should be the cry of freedom-loving
people everywhere."
Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-CA) – "On April 24, 1915, the Turkish
government began to arrest Armenian community and political
leaders. Many were executed without ever being charged with crimes.
Then the government deported most Armenians from Turkish Armenia,
ordering that they resettle in what is now Syria. Many deportees
never reached that destination… We also remember this day because
it is a time for us to celebrate the contribution of the Armenian
community in America–including hundreds of thousands in
California–to the richness of our character and culture. The
strength they have displayed in overcoming tragedy to flourish in
this country is an example for all of us. Their success is moving
testimony to the truth that tyranny and evil cannot extinguish the
vitality of the human spirit."
Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) – "This should be a day reserved for
honoring the memory of those who were killed and paying tribute to
the strength of those who survived. It should be a time to reflect
on the personal narratives of those who were exiled, the historical
evidence of villages and communities that were destroyed, and
diplomatic cables from U.S. officials that described the
atrocities. It should be an opportunity to resolve ourselves to
fight crimes against humanity in all forms and all places. Instead,
year after year, April 24 unleashes a battle of semantics… Those
who acknowledge what happened in Armenia as a ‘tragedy,’ a
‘catastrophe,’ or a ‘massacre’ are correct. But nothing other than
the term ‘genocide’ can wholly characterize the systematic
deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians and the deliberate
annihilation of 1.5 million men, women and children. Anything short
of that is unfair to those who perished and unhelpful to our plight
against future acts of genocide."
Rep. Jerry F. Costello (D-IL) – "In spite of overwhelming evidence,
particularly American diplomatic records from the time, some
continue to deny the occurrence of this brutal tragedy in human
history. As a member of Congress, I represent a significant
population of Armenian survivors who have proudly preserved their
culture, traditions, and religion and have told the horrors of the
genocide to an often indifferent world… Mr. Speaker, it is time
to fully recognize the Armenian Genocide in order to right the
historical record… so we pay tribute to the memory of all the
individuals who suffered, their family members that remain, and vow
to never forget their sacrifices."
Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-MA) – "Many of our companions in the
international community have already taken this final step…The
European Parliament and the United Nations have recognized and
reaffirmed the Armenian Genocide as historical fact, as have the
Russian and Greek parliaments, the Canadian House of Commons, the
Lebanese Chamber of Deputies and the French National Assembly. It
is time for America to join the chorus and acknowledge the
Armenians who suffered at the hands of the Ottoman Empire."
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___________________________ __________
Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Communications Director
Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
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www.anca.org
www.anca.org