April 21, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2243 companies to have access to other mar- trying to bomb Milosevic into compli- other 500,000 had gone into exile. At the kets for goods like computers and ance. I believe a fiercely enforced em- end of 1923, all of the Armenian resi- encryption software winds up harming bargo might have been a better first dents of Anatolia and western Armenia our national security policies. step. An effort to induce Milosevic to had been either killed or deported. The world has changed. It is global, step aside by telling him he would have The genocide was criticized at the and technology is very accessible. We been forcibly pursued and taken and time by U.S. Ambassador Henry Mor- need to reexamine old policies that no tried as a war criminal would have also genthau, who accused the Turkish au- longer accomplish what they set out to been worth trying. But NATO and the thorities of, quote, giving the death do. Clinton administration chose another warrant to a whole race, unquote. The f course that has led to where we are founder of the modern Turkish Nation, today. Kemal Ataturk, condemned the crimes ADMINISTRATION SHOULD CALL Even though the results are so far perpetrated by his predecessors, and ON OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO HELP not what we would like to see, we are yet this forthright and sober analysis DEVELOP BALKAN STRATEGY committed to the effort and cannot has been spurned by Turkey and the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a back off. We must win, not only for the United States during the last decade. previous order of the House, the gen- sake of the refugees and for stability in The intransigence of this and prior tleman from Virginia (Mr. WOLF) is Eastern Europe, but now for the credi- administrations to recognizing and recognized for 5 minutes. bility of both the U.S. and NATO. If commemorating the Armenian Geno- Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ex- credibility is lost, will there not follow cide demonstrates our continued dif- press concern over the conditions in a host of other tyrants eager to chal- ficulty in reconciling the lessons of the Balkans. I am particularly con- lenge the will of the free world in pur- history with real politic policies; that cerned with the continued deteriora- suit of their own gain? is, those who fail to learn the lessons of tion in the lives of ethnic Albanian ref- Today I call on President Clinton to history are condemned to repeat them. ugees ripped from their homes in assemble a group of American leaders We have seen continually in this cen- Kosovo at the direction of Serbia Presi- knowledgeable of and with proven abil- tury the abject failure to learn and dent Milosevic. I have been concerned ity in foreign affairs, diplomacy, war- apply this basic principle. The Arme- enough to visit this troubled region fare and statecraft to provide counsel nian Genocide has been followed by the twice in the past 2 months. I watched and direction to the Balkan effort Holocaust against the Jews and mass conditions get worse and worse and which now seems to be stalled. I hope killings in Kurdistan, Rwanda, Burundi worse. Reports indicate that half a mil- he considers men and women of high and the Balkans. Many of these situa- lion refugees have fled Kosovo for Al- stature and achievement such as tions are ongoing, and in most cases bania, Macedonia, Montenegro, with George Shultz, Warren Christopher, there seems little apparent sense of ur- many more than that uprooted and Zbigniew Brzezinski, Senator Sam gency or moral imperative to resolve hiding in terror in Kosovo. And the free Nunn, Casper Weinberger, Bob them. Commemoration of the Armenian world has found no way to stem this Zoellick, Morton Abramowitz, William Genocide is important. It is important fall into despair for over a million men, Perry, Frank Carlucci, Max not only for its acknowledgment of the women and children. Kampelman, Paul Wolfowitz, Lee Ham- suffering of the Armenian people, but Relief efforts are underway to help ilton, Robert Hunter, James Baker, also for establishing a historical truth. the refugees. Mr. Speaker, while it may Lawrence Eagleburger, Jeane Kirk- It also demonstrates that events in Ar- be too late and too little, help is begin- patrick, former Admiral William menia, Nazi Europe and elsewhere ning to be provided. But nothing has Crowe, former General Schwarzkopf worked to date to overturn the root should be seen not as isolated inci- and former General Colin Powell. dents, but as part of a historical con- cause. Milosevic has campaigned to These would be men and women who drive ethnic Albanians out of Kosovo in tinuum showing that the human com- would sit at the table with their Presi- munity still suffers from its basic in- a manner so evil that fear will linger in dent not to criticize what has or not their hearts forever. ability to resolve its problems, to re- been done, but to suggest a workable solve them peacefully and with mutual NATO and Clinton administration ef- plan for the future. They would offer forts thus far have not stopped the bru- respect. privileged counsel to the President I hope that today’s remarks by Mem- tality. Despite daily briefings to the rather than critical critique to the bers concerned about Armenia will help contrary, bombing in Serbia is just not press. They would help define an ac- to renew our commitment and that all going that well. At the rate things are ceptable way to end the Balkan strat- of the American people will oppose any going, it may take a long time to stop egy. and all instances of genocide. Milosevic, and the refugees do not have All Americans want to bring peace to f forever. For too many, time has al- the Balkans and help the refugees from ready run out. The Clinton administra- Kosovo. Mr. President, I call on you TURKISH GOVERNMENT CON- tion has so many times ruled out the and I urge you to call on some of the TINUES TO DENY ARMENIAN use of ground troops that Milosevic best people in America to help show GENOCIDE may have been emboldened by what he the way, and please, please do it soon. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a perceives as a lack of commitment by f previous order of the House, the gentle- the other side to win. I fear that the woman from Michigan (Ms. STABENOW) COMMEMORATING THE ARMENIAN Clinton administration has no clear is recognized for 5 minutes. strategy or idea as to what it will take GENOCIDE Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, today to win in the Balkans. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a I join with my colleagues to commemo- Last Friday I called the White House previous order of the House, the gentle- rate this day, April 24, as the day of the and spoke with someone on the Na- woman from Maryland (Mrs. MORELLA) Armenian genocide carried out by the tional Security Council about this is recognized for 5 minutes. young Turk government of the Otto- issue. I asked if they had sought out- Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I am man Empire in 1915. It was on that day side thinking from knowledgeable and pleased to join with some of my col- in 1915 when 300 Armenian leaders, previously experienced people, such as leagues who have been here today to writers and thinkers were rounded up, Warren Christopher, George Shultz, commemorate the Armenian genocide. deported and killed, and 5000 of the Larry Eagleburger and others, includ- This observance takes place every poorest Armenians were killed in their ing battle-proven former military com- April, for it was in that month in 1915 homes. Between 1894 and 1921 there manders. I was told they had not, but that more than 200 Armenian religious, were 1.5 million Armenians in the Otto- this idea might be an idea they would political and intellectual leaders were man Empire that were killed, and entertain. To my knowledge they have arrested in Constantinople and mur- 500,000 were deported. not followed up. dered. Over the next 8 years persecu- This Armenian genocide was carried I personally would have chosen a dif- tion of Armenians intensified. By 1923 out in a tragically inhumane and sys- ferent plan than the current effort of more than 1.5 million had died and an- tematic fashion. First, Armenians in H2244 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 21, 1999 the army were disarmed, placed into The eyewitness accounts of this trag- nonviolence. Demonstrating and teach- labor battalions and then killed. Next, edy come not from the history books ing our children that violence is wrong Armenian political and intellectual but from my own hometown. Today, should be a part of our daily lives. leaders were rounded up and killed as nearly one-quarter of a million Arme- Each day in the United States five well. Finally, the remaining Armenians nians reside in the Los Angeles area, a infants and children die from abuse and were called from their homes and majority in my hometown of Glendale, neglect and seven teens are murdered. marched to concentration camps in the California. This is the largest con- In fact, more children lose their lives desert where they were left to starve to centration of Armenian Americans out- to criminal violence in the United death or were placed on barges and side the Republic of Armenia. I have States than in any of the 26 industri- sunk in the Black Sea. During that been blessed with their friendship. alized nations of the world. Many time Turks who protected Armenians Armenian Americans have served our would be shocked at these statistics. were killed. country faithfully as members of the The Children’s Memorial Flag To this day, Mr. Speaker, the Turk- armed services, as public officials, as Project was created to raise awareness ish government denies that there was business and community leaders. Their about the violence towards children in an Armenian genocide and claims that story is the story of America, one of our country and to organize commu- Armenians were only removed from the hard work, dedication, commitment to nity and national prevention strate- eastern war zone. America has bene- faith and to family. I have heard their gies. It is with pride that I say that fited in countless ways from the sur- story. I have heard it from survivors of this project was originated in 1996 in vivors of the genocide who have come the genocide and from their descend- the district which I represent, the 9th to the United States with their fami- ants. Congressional District of California. lies and now their descendants. As a My good friend Gregory Krikorian In the past 5 years alone we have lost representative from Michigan, we have has told me the story of his grand- more than 140 children in Alameda been blessed by the contributions of mother, Yegnar Atamian, who after County to preventable violence. Each the Armenian community in our cities witnessing the brutal death of her fa- time a child is killed, we fly the Chil- and counties across Michigan. ther, the capture and slaughter of her dren’s Memorial Flag at half-staff. The Today I call on the Republic of Tur- brothers, the rape of her mother and Child Welfare League of America has key to stop being the only country in sisters, endured her own deportation adopted Alameda County’s Children’s the world to deny the Armenian geno- through the deserts of Syria. Her faith Memorial Flag and promotes it nation- cide. It is time to admit what hap- and her will to live somehow guided ally. pened. The Republic of Turkey must her to America. Last year 33 states participated on show goodwill as well by allowing She is not alone. Last year, I spoke Children’s Memorial Day, the fourth American aid to present-day Arme- of the tragedy witnessed by another Friday in the month of April, which is nians to pass through to their citizens constituent, Haig Baronian. As a child, both Child Abuse Month and Crime unhampered. he watched his own mother dragged Prevention Month. This year we antici- This is a day to remember, a day to away, never to be seen again. pate 20 States flying the flag at half- pause in prayer and a day to com- In the memory of their families and mast, with 13 others memorializing the memorate our desire and commitment in reverence to our founding principles children by other means. for this not to happen again. of liberty at all costs, we must not let Soon my friend and our Bay Area col- f these images be erased from history. league, the gentleman from California HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE We must work together today to put to (Mr. STARK), will introduce legislation ARMENIAN GENOCIDE rest the painful memories of these and that would adopt the Children’s Memo- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a so many Armenians who were forced to rial Flag and establish the fourth Fri- previous order of the House, the gen- begin their lives anew, far from their day in April as National Day of Observ- tleman from California (Mr. ROGAN) is homeland. We must properly acknowl- ance. I ask my colleagues to cosponsor recognized for 5 minutes. edge the past. and support this legislation, and honor Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, imagine an I urge my colleagues to join me in the memory of children lost to violence entire village, 10,000 people, drowned at supporting our efforts to commemorate in our country on this Friday, April once. Imagine watching as your fathers the genocide against Armenia. Let us 23rd. I will continue to work to estab- and brothers are burned to death. join together to close the gaping wound lish this day as a remembrance to Imagine watching men in your commu- history has scored on the body of hu- honor children by flying the Children’s nity tied to horses and dragged away. manity. Let us give the martyrs of the Memorial Flag at half-mast, and I urge Or watching children see their mothers Armenian people the eternal rest they my colleagues to join with me in this and sisters raped and then beaten and have been seeking for nearly a century. effort. dragged away. Imagine, if you will, f Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of one of our society's most valuable smiling soldiers posing alongside the ALAMEDA COUNTY CHILDREN’S and most vulnerable groups of citizens: our corpses of those who were just mo- MEMORIAL DAY AND FLAG Children. ments before family, friends and neigh- PROJECT bors. Imagine if all this happened in For more than a decade, April has been front of your eyes, and then as you The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. grew old, history and indeed nations of NEY). Under a previous order of the The U.S. Department of Health and Human the world choose to ignore it all. House, the gentlewoman from Cali- Services reported that nearly one million chil- Mr. Speaker, these memories were fornia (Ms. LEE) is recognized for 5 dren were abused and neglected in 1997. not imagined, they were witnessed by minutes. Child abuse is society's concern. Prevention thousands. Today these memories live Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to of child abuse demands that everyoneÐFed- in the hearts and minds of many of my ask that my colleagues join me in sup- eral, State and local government as well as friends and thousands of my constitu- porting a Children’s Memorial Flag community service providers, teachers, busi- ents. It is our duty not to let these Project and establishing a National nesses, families, friends and neighbors must memories fade. Children’s Memorial Day to remember work as a unit to protect our children. all of the children who die by violence This Friday is Children's Memorial Day; a b 1500 in our country. As I speak today, my day set aside to memorialize the thousands of Mr. Speaker, I rise to support legisla- thoughts and prayers go out to the children and youth killed each year as a result tion that will forever recognize the Littleton, Colorado, community and of child abuse. I challenge each Member of atrocities committed against the Ar- the families of the students and faculty Congress to help expand awareness and en- menian people at the hands of the members who were tragically murdered courage prevention efforts for this nationwide Ottoman Turks between 1915 and 1923. yesterday. problem. In eight short years, more than 1.5 mil- Not only during January, when we Violence against our children must end. Pre- lion husbands, wives and children suf- celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s venting child abuse is everybody's business. fered and died. birthday, should we discuss and teach Make it yours.