Congressional Record: March 17, 2005
>>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
ANTHONY BARSAMIAN SPEAKS ELOQUENTLY ABOUT THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
HON. BARNEY FRANK
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, last month, Anthony
Barsamian, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Armenian Assembly
of America, made an eloquent speech at the “International Refuge,
Relief and Recognition Tribute” hosted by the Armenian-American
community in California. Mr. Barsamian eloquently stressed the
importance to all of us of remembering that “the history of genocide
must remain inviolable and periodically affirmed regardless of
political discomfort or cost so that we may learn its lessons.”
Mr. Speaker, I think it is a grave error that this Congress has not
been allowed to vote on a resolution affirming this important point
with regard to the terrible history of the genocide perpetrated against
the Armenians. We cannot allow current foreign policy considerations to
override our obligation in this critical area. Anthony Barsamian
cogently and forcefully reminds us why such an omission is
unacceptable, and I ask that his moving, thoughtful remarks be printed
here.
Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian’s Remarks at the
“International Refuge, Relief and Recognition Tribute”–February 24,
2005
Your Eminence, Reverend clergy, Your Excellencies, Ladies
and Gentlemen,
This remembrance and recognition highlights two issues of
critical importance to the horrific recurrence of Genocide
and the apparent impotence of the world to stop this crime
against us all.
First, the history of genocide must remain inviolable and
periodically affirmed regardless of political discomfort or
cost so that we may learn its lessons.
Second, the actions of 3rd parties are vital to raising
awareness about the crime as soon as it becomes known, to
taking resolute steps to end the genocidal process, to bring
to account the perpetrators, to provide comfort to the
survivors, and to forever remember all instances of genocide.
This is why the Armenian Assembly joined with the AGBU and
the Diocese to remember those nations and organizations that
took action while the Armenian Genocide was being carried out
and subsequently. Armenians remain deeply indebted to all who
refused the easy path of indifference and inaction. You saved
lives, you affirmed the truth, and you bore witness so that
the world would be better equipped to act on the meaning of
“Never Again”.
As is evident today, the Republic of Turkey refuses to
accept the judgment of history that the Ottoman Turkish
government committed genocide against its Armenian minority.
Instead, Turkey attempts to impose its revisionism on a
civilized world that knows better, but occasionally succumbs
to Turkish demands and intimidation by refraining from
affirming the truth. Nations who had initially committed to participate
in this
recognition commemoration withdrew in the face of such
Turkish pressure. This solves nothing. The dead are not
honored for their sacrifice. The actions of the righteous are
not recalled. And ironically, the descendants of the
victimizers are not allowed to come to terms with the truth.
Nevertheless, we pause today as we begin this 90th
commemorative year to give thanks to all nations and
organizations that came to our aid–but particularly to those
that attended today despite the Turkish government’s campaign
to stop you.
For Turkey’s state sponsored denial effort, having this
event is a defeat. This is a good day for the truth. As
Armenian-Americans, we recall with special appreciation the
leading role of the United States in attempting to prevent
the Armenian Genocide and in aiding those that survived. As
Armenian-Americans, we look to the United States to continue
this proud chapter of American history by reaffirming the
facts of this most calamitous chapter of Armenian history.
There is an inevitability to universal affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide, and America has not and will not be an
exception.
A case in point is the recently concluded visit of U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans with major Armenian-American
communities across the country. In his public commentaries,
Ambassador Evans repeatedly employed the words “Armenian
Genocide” to properly characterize the attempted
annihilation of our people by Ottoman Turkey.
This is in keeping with President Reagan’s proclamation of
April 22, 1981 where he stated in part, “like the genocide
of the Armenians before it, and the genocide of the
Cambodians which followed it–and like too many other
persecutions of too many other people–the lessons of the
Holocaust must never be forgotten”. . .
And also with the thrust of President Bush’s 2001 to 2004
April 24 messages that set forth the textbook definition of
genocide without using the word. Ambassador Evans completed
the thought.
The Ambassador’s characterization also is in keeping with
the public declarations of over 120 renowned Holocaust and
Genocide scholars regarding “the incontestable fact of the
Armenian Genocide”.
Further, Ambassador Evans’ characterization conforms to the
summary conclusion of the International Center for
Transitional Justice on the use of the term Armenian
Genocide. ICTJ stated that “the Events, viewed collectively,
can thus be said to include all of the elements of the crime
of genocide as defined in the Convention, and legal scholars
as well as historians, politicians, journalists and other
people would be justified in continuing to so describe
them.”
The Armenian-American community will not rest until the
United States formally and irrevocably reaffirms the Armenian
Genocide. By so doing, we forever advance the special role of
the United States in genocide prevention.
Today, we are here to honor 17 nations who have joined the
movement towards universal affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide. You have appropriately remembered this instance of
man’s inhumanity to man. You have stepped forward to combat
denial and revisionism. We will never forget your solidarity.
As Voltaire said, “to the living we owe respect, but to
the dead we owe only the truth”.
____________________