April 21, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE 7063 drive ethnic Albanians out of Kosovo in Crowe, former General Schwarzkopf suffering of the Armenian people, but a manner so evil that fear will linger in and former General Colin Powell. also for establishing a historical truth. their hearts forever. These would be men and women who It also demonstrates that events in Ar- NATO and Clinton administration ef- would sit at the table with their Presi- menia, Nazi Europe and elsewhere forts thus far have not stopped the bru- dent not to criticize what has or not should be seen not as isolated inci- tality. Despite daily briefings to the been done, but to suggest a workable dents, but as part of a historical con- contrary, bombing in Serbia is just not plan for the future. They would offer tinuum showing that the human com- going that well. At the rate things are privileged counsel to the President munity still suffers from its basic in- going, it may take a long time to stop rather than critical critique to the ability to resolve its problems, to re- Milosevic, and the refugees do not have press. They would help define an ac- solve them peacefully and with mutual forever. For too many, time has al- ceptable way to end the Balkan strat- respect. ready run out. The Clinton administra- egy. I hope that today’s remarks by Mem- tion has so many times ruled out the All Americans want to bring peace to bers concerned about Armenia will help use of ground troops that Milosevic the Balkans and help the refugees from to renew our commitment and that all may have been emboldened by what he Kosovo. Mr. President, I call on you of the American people will oppose any perceives as a lack of commitment by and I urge you to call on some of the and all instances of genocide. the other side to win. I fear that the best people in America to help show f Clinton administration has no clear the way, and please, please do it soon. TURKISH GOVERNMENT CON- strategy or idea as to what it will take f TINUES TO DENY ARMENIAN to win in the Balkans. GENOCIDE Last Friday I called the White House COMMEMORATING THE ARMENIAN and spoke with someone on the Na- GENOCIDE The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a tional Security Council about this The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentle- issue. I asked if they had sought out- previous order of the House, the gentle- woman from Michigan (Ms. STABENOW) side thinking from knowledgeable and woman from Maryland (Mrs. MORELLA) is recognized for 5 minutes. Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, today previously experienced people, such as is recognized for 5 minutes. I join with my colleagues to commemo- Warren Christopher, George Shultz, Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I am rate this day, April 24, as the day of the Larry Eagleburger and others, includ- pleased to join with some of my col- Armenian genocide carried out by the ing battle-proven former military com- leagues who have been here today to young Turk government of the Otto- manders. I was told they had not, but commemorate the Armenian genocide. man Empire in 1915. It was on that day this idea might be an idea they would This observance takes place every in 1915 when 300 Armenian leaders, entertain. To my knowledge they have April, for it was in that month in 1915 writers and thinkers were rounded up, not followed up. that more than 200 Armenian religious, deported and killed, and 5000 of the I personally would have chosen a dif- political and intellectual leaders were poorest Armenians were killed in their ferent plan than the current effort of arrested in Constantinople and mur- homes. Between 1894 and 1921 there trying to bomb Milosevic into compli- dered. Over the next 8 years persecu- were 1.5 million Armenians in the Otto- ance. I believe a fiercely enforced em- tion of Armenians intensified. By 1923 man Empire that were killed, and bargo might have been a better first more than 1.5 million had died and an- 500,000 were deported. step. An effort to induce Milosevic to other 500,000 had gone into exile. At the This Armenian genocide was carried step aside by telling him he would have end of 1923, all of the Armenian resi- out in a tragically inhumane and sys- been forcibly pursued and taken and dents of Anatolia and western Armenia tematic fashion. First, Armenians in tried as a war criminal would have also had been either killed or deported. the army were disarmed, placed into been worth trying. But NATO and the The genocide was criticized at the labor battalions and then killed. Next, Clinton administration chose another time by U.S. Ambassador Henry Mor- Armenian political and intellectual course that has led to where we are genthau, who accused the Turkish au- leaders were rounded up and killed as today. thorities of, quote, giving the death well. Finally, the remaining Armenians Even though the results are so far warrant to a whole race, unquote. The were called from their homes and not what we would like to see, we are founder of the modern Turkish Nation, marched to concentration camps in the committed to the effort and cannot Kemal Ataturk, condemned the crimes desert where they were left to starve to back off. We must win, not only for the perpetrated by his predecessors, and death or were placed on barges and sake of the refugees and for stability in yet this forthright and sober analysis sunk in the Black Sea. During that Eastern Europe, but now for the credi- has been spurned by Turkey and the time Turks who protected Armenians bility of both the U.S. and NATO. If United States during the last decade. were killed. credibility is lost, will there not follow The intransigence of this and prior To this day, Mr. Speaker, the Turk- a host of other tyrants eager to chal- administrations to recognizing and ish government denies that there was lenge the will of the free world in pur- commemorating the Armenian Geno- an Armenian genocide and claims that suit of their own gain? cide demonstrates our continued dif- Armenians were only removed from the Today I call on President Clinton to ficulty in reconciling the lessons of eastern war zone. America has bene- assemble a group of American leaders history with real politic policies; that fited in countless ways from the sur- knowledgeable of and with proven abil- is, those who fail to learn the lessons of vivors of the genocide who have come ity in foreign affairs, diplomacy, war- history are condemned to repeat them. to the United States with their fami- fare and statecraft to provide counsel We have seen continually in this cen- lies and now their descendants. As a and direction to the Balkan effort tury the abject failure to learn and representative from Michigan, we have which now seems to be stalled. I hope apply this basic principle. The Arme- been blessed by the contributions of he considers men and women of high nian Genocide has been followed by the the Armenian community in our cities stature and achievement such as Holocaust against the Jews and mass and counties across Michigan. George Shultz, Warren Christopher, killings in Kurdistan, Rwanda, Burundi Today I call on the Republic of Tur- Zbigniew Brzezinski, Senator Sam and the Balkans. Many of these situa- key to stop being the only country in Nunn, Casper Weinberger, Bob tions are ongoing, and in most cases the world to deny the Armenian geno- Zoellick, Morton Abramowitz, William there seems little apparent sense of ur- cide. It is time to admit what hap- Perry, Frank Carlucci, Max gency or moral imperative to resolve pened. The Republic of Turkey must Kampelman, Paul Wolfowitz, Lee Ham- them. show goodwill as well by allowing ilton, Robert Hunter, James Baker, Commemoration of the Armenian American aid to present-day Arme- Lawrence Eagleburger, Jeane Kirk- Genocide is important. It is important nians to pass through to their citizens patrick, former Admiral William not only for its acknowledgment of the unhampered.

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