H 4508 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE May 2, 1995

and focusing our attention on this horrible

blight on our history.

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1923.

Today, we are marking the anniversary of a

terrible time for the Armenian people, a time of

tragic oppression and horrific suffering. April

24, 1915, marks the date when many Armenians were uprooted and deported from Turkish Armenia, dying of starvation, disease, and

massacres. An estimated one and a half million people died during the period 1915–1923,

the victims of the last years of the Ottoman

Empire.

In recalling those awful days, we are also

commemorating the strength of the Armenian

people whose fortitude of character and culture gave them the will to triumph over their

tragedy. In our own country, Armenian-Americans have flourished. Their individual accomplishments have contributed greatly to the

wealth of our Nation. Their achievements are

a moving testimony to the truth that tyranny

cannot extinguish the human spirit.

In remembering this tragedy, we are remembering as well other acts of savagery and

genocide in human history. Murder and destruction have not been eliminated from this

Earth. In Bosnia today evil men and women

still seek to exterminate a people and eliminate their culture. We end this century as we

began it: with the death of innocents on the

altar of tyranny.

By marking this day the Armenian genocide,

we, the American people, are renewing our

commitment to oppose the persecution of any

people.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join

with me in remembering the tragedy of the Armenian people and in renewing our commitment to human rights.

Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to join

my colleagues today in remembrance of the

tragedy that overtook the Armenian people in

the years 1915–23.

Extensive massacres of Armenians took

place in eastern Anatolia during the latter

years of the Ottoman Empire. Those events

have indelibly and permanently marked the

consciousness of many Americans, including

Americans of Armenian descent, who commemorate April 24, 1995, as a national day of

remembrance of man’s inhumanity to man and

a special day of remembrance for the Armenian victims of these tragic events in the early

years of this century.

April 24 this year marks the 80th anniversary of this calamity. It is appropriate on this

occasion to direct our attention and prayers to

the memory of the men, women, and children—most scholars believe more than 1 million—who died in these tragic events.

It is in the interest of all of us and in the interest of mankind that this type of tragedy not

occur again. The leading organizations of the

Armenian-American community have been

seeking to work within our political system for

a statement concerning these critical events in

their heritage. I feel we should work with them

in a constructive fashion and this is why it is

important for us to recognize this day of remembrance. No one can deny these events

and the centrality of these events in modern

Armenian history. I am proud to be associated

today with my colleagues in this important day

of remembrance.

The Republic of Armenia, a country of 3.3

million people, is developing important ties

with the United States. Americans have an interest in the economic development of Armenia, its progress toward a free-market economy, and its development of democratic institutions. We want to work for the earliest possible end to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

We want to work with Armenia and its neighbors to promote peace, stability, and economic

progress in the Caucasus region. As a small

step in this direction, I welcome Turkey’s decision to restore an air corridor to Armenia for

humanitarian relief. I hope that the Government of Turkey will take additional steps to reopen a land corridor to Armenia. There is no

better way to honor the misdeeds of the past

than to rededicate ourselves to a better future,

for Armenia and all the people and states of

the region.

We should also use this occasion to rededicate ourselves to the cause of human rights.

I commend those governments, private organizations, and individuals, including Armenians

and the Armenian-American community, who

are working toward this end. I hope that their

efforts will make the world a safer place,

where innocent people no longer suffer the

unspeakable crimes of war and terror.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask

GENERAL LEAVE

funanimous consent that all Members

may have 5 legislative days within

which to revise and extend their remarks on the special order just given.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there

objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey?

There was no objection.

By unanimous consent, leave of abLEAVE OF ABSENCE

fsence was granted to:

Mr. SAXTON (at the request of Mr.

ARMEY), for today on account of preparation for Base Realignment and Closure Commission hearing.

Mr. ROGERS (at the request of Mr.

ARMEY), for today, on account of illness in the family.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (at the request of

Mr. ARMEY), for today, on account of

illness in the family.

Mr. MENENDEZ (at the request of Mr.

GEPHARDT), for today, on account of official business.

Mr. BAESLER (at the request of Mr.

GEPHARDT), for today, on account of a

death in the family.

Mr. MORAN (at the request of Mr.

GEPHARDT), for today after 2:30 p.m.

and tomorrow, on account of illness in

the family.

By unanimous consent, permission to

SPECIAL ORDERS GRANTED

faddress the House, following the legislative program and any special orders

heretofore entered, was granted to:

(The following Members (at the request of Ms. JACKSON-LEE) to revise

and extend their remarks and include

extraneous material:)

Ms. KAPTUR, for 5 minutes, today.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE, for 5 minutes,

today.

Mr. HOYER, for 5 minutes, today.

Mr. MFUME, for 5 minutes, today.

Mr. WYNN, for 5 minutes, today.

Ms. DELAURO, for 5 minutes, today.

Mrs. SCHROEDER, for 5 minutes,

today.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, for 5 minutes, today.

Mr. MINETA, for 5 minutes, today.

Ms. NORTON, for 5 minutes, today.

Mr. HAMILTON, for 5 minutes, today.

Mr. GIBBONS, for 5 minutes, today.

Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, for 5

minutes today.

(The following Members (at the request of Mr. WAMP) to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material:)

Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, for 5

minutes today.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART, for 5 minutes,

today.

EXTENSION OF REMARKS

fBy unanimous consent, permission to

revise and extend remarks was granted

to:

(The following Members (at the request of Ms. JACKSON-LEE) and to include extraneous matter:)

Mr. MILLER of California.

Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts.

Mr. BERMAN in two instances.

Mr. HAMILTON in three instances.

Mr. OBERSTAR.

Mr. MOAKLEY.

Ms. DELAURO.

Mrs. MALONEY in three instances.

Mrs. LOWEY.

Mr. LEVIN.

Mr. FAZIO of California.

Mr. TOWNS in eight instances.

Mr. MENENDEZ in four instances.

Mr. BEILENSON.

Mr. GEJDENSON.

Mr. COLEMAN.

Mr. LANTOS.

Mr. GEPHARDT.

Mr. NADLER in two instances.

Mr. COSTELLO.

Ms. KAPTUR.

Mr. GONZALEZ.

Mr. BONIOR in two instances.

(The following Members (at the request of Mr. WAMP) and to include extraneous matter:)

Mr. RADANOVICH.

Mr. LARGENT.

Mr. CLINGER.

Mrs. MORELLA.

Mr. DAVIS.

Mr. BAKER of California in three instances.

Mr. FORBES.

Mr. BUNNING.

Mr. WOLF.

Mr. SOLOMON in two instances.

Mr. BURTON of Indiana.

Mr. ZELIFF.

Mr. BOEHLERT.

Mr. COBLE.

Mr. SPENCE.

Mr. MARTINI.

Mr. ZIMMER.