[Congressional Record: April 22, 2005 (Extensions)]
[Page E737]
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr22ap05-22]
IN OBSERVANCE OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
______
HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, this Sunday, April 24, 2005 is the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the systematic and planned
extermination of an entire ethnic group by the Ottoman Empire, and the
first act of genocide in the 20th Century. I join my colleagues and the
Armenian-American community in my district, the 9th Congressional
District of New Jersey, and with people of goodwill throughout the
world, in solemn observance and acknowledgement of the deaths of 1.5
million Armenians during the years 1915-1923.
Countless Armenian families were torn apart forever by these gruesome
acts of violence–acts that have been seared into the memories of the
courageous individuals who survived. Survivors have vowed to never let
their children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren, or others in
the world, forget this past. Unfortunately, there is still a denial on
the part of many people around the world about the actual occurrence of
a genocide in Armenia. I stand steadfast with my Armenian friends in
support of an acknowledgement of the horrors that were inflicted upon
their families, and I continue to urge the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide.
This year, the number “ninety” serves as a reminder that too many
years have passed without proper recognition, and it serves as a
motivational tool to continue to educate the world about the Armenian
Genocide. In past years on the day of the anniversary, my Armenian-
American constituents from St. Leon Armenian Apostolic Church in Fair
Lawn, St. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Ridgefield, and St.
Thomas Armenian Apostolic Church in Tenafly would participate in solemn
services held in memory of the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide at
their individual churches. This year, however, the number “ninety”
will unify Armenian-Americans as all members of the Armenian Apostolic
churches on the East Coast will convene in Times Square in New York
City to stand together and have their voices heard.
This anniversary also provides us with an opportunity to pledge that
such a slaughter should never take place again. I am sickened and
dismayed by the atrocities that we continue to see today in the Sudan,
as well as others that we have seen in the 20th century, such as the
Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing campaigns in Cambodia, Kosovo and
Rwanda. All of these events should be recognized for what they are:
Genocide.
As a Jewish-American, I stand united with Armenians who continue to
fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide so the world will never
forget the first crime against humanity in the 20th Century. I am
hopeful that this 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will bring
with it the recognition that is deserved, and help us in our
obligations as global citizens to protect the basic human rights of all
people. We owe it to our ancestors, our families, and humanity to be
committed to preventing genocide in the future, no matter when, where,
or to whom it occurs.