Statement of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA7)
Remarks on the Ninety-Seventh Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Mr. Speaker, parev, pari yegak (Hello, welcome!)
Thank you to the Armenian National Committee of America, the Armenian Assembly, the Armenian Caucus, the Embassy of Armenia, and the Office of Nagorno Karabakh for organizing this very important event.
I would also like to give a special thanks to all of the Armenian Genocide survivors and their families who are here tonight.
I am very proud to represent the 7th district of Massachusetts because my district includes the community with the third highest percentage of Armenian-Americans in the nation.
We have gathered today to remember and commemorate the Armenian Genocide, one of the darkest chapters of World War I, and the first of many genocides we saw in the 20th Century.
Ninety-seven years ago, the Armenian Genocide was initiated when hundreds of Armenian political, religious, and intellectual leaders were arrested in Constantinople and then deported and murdered. Unfortunately, these terrible atrocities that occurred in the capital of the Ottoman Empire only represented the beginning of the suffering inflicted on the Armenian people.
Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Empire carried out the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians from their homes, resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million innocent children, women and men.
This must never happen again.
In order to prevent future genocides, we must recognize those of the past. For many years the House has had before it a resolution which clearly affirms the United States record on the Armenian Genocide.
I have been a strong supporter and vocal cosponsor of this resolution in every Congress, and I remain so today.
Almost one-hundred years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, yet the suffering will continue for Armenians and non-Armenians alike as long as the world allows denial to prevail.
Already, 43 states and 22 nations have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, and it is long overdue for the United States to do the same.
Unfortunately, the Republic of Armenia’s challenges continue even after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
In the face of ongoing blockades from Turkey and Azerbaijan, the United States must provide assistance to Armenia while working to reestablish the Turkish government’s commitment to normalized relations in order to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus region. I strongly support these efforts.
The Armenian people are true survivors. Despite the reappearing themes of invasions and land loss that the Armenians have dealt with for over 3,000 years, coupled with the loss of between one-half and three-quarters of their population in the early 20th century, the people of Armenia have prevailed.
In fact, I have a wonderful Armenian intern in my office, Victoria Hines. Victoria’s grandmother was born on a train in Moscow during her family’s journey to America after her mother hid her father from the Ottoman Turks allowing for their escape.
Despite watching their friends and even their own first-born perish in the genocide, the Tutunjian family, along with the rest of the Armenian people, view the stories of their families as reminders of the importance of preserving the fight for recognition.
The journey of the Armenian people continues today, with our shared responsibility to ensure that the Armenian people are able to build their own, independent and prosperous future.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Armenian-American community to address the issues facing this longtime friend and important ally of the United States. Together we can build something positive, something hopeful, something good for the future – an Armenia that is respected and honored by its allies and neighbors.
And this cannot come without universal acknowledgement of the horror that was the Armenian Genocide.
Shnorhagal em (Thank you).
