July 20, 2010 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 156, Pt. 10 13501 their families a great debt. Our resolution CHECHNYA A YEAR AFTER THE ers is palpable. Earlier this month Kadyrov today is but a small testament to their dedica- KILLING OF NATALYA publicly labeled independent journalists and tion and valor. ESTEMIROVA rights activists as ‘‘traitors and enemies of the state.’’ Among those targeted by the Chechen f HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS leader is the respected Russian rights organi- OF FLORIDA zation Memorial. HONORING THE LATE ARNOLD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Madam Speaker, as Co-Chairman of the FRIBERG Helsinki Commission I remain concerned over Tuesday, July 20, 2010 the deterioration of the human rights situation Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, in the North Caucasus generally, and HON. JASON CHAFFETZ a year ago this month Natalya Estemirova, the Chechnya specifically. I am not alone in this OF UTAH leading human rights defender in Chechnya regard, as the Council of Europe’s Parliamen- was abducted near her apartment building in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tary Assembly adopted a resolution late last the capital city of Grozny by unidentified men, month on the North Caucasus. The measure Tuesday, July 20, 2010 transported to the neighboring republic of pointed to a series of specific concerns in Ingushetia, and brutally killed. She led a cou- Chechnya against the backdrop of what it Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I rise rageous life of denouncing corruption, calling characterized as ‘‘a climate of pervading fear’’ today to remember and honor the late Arnold for a fair judicial system, and standing up for nurtured by the current authorities: recurrent Friberg, a proud Utahn and world-renowned human rights. For that she was cut down. disappearances of government opponents and artist. Mr. Friberg passed away July 1, 2010 at While her killers may have ended her life, they human rights defenders still remain widely 96 years young, just nine days following an will never silence the voice she brought to unpunished; continuing threats and reprisals, agreement to create the Arnold Friberg Mu- these issues. Ms. Estemirova’s work was well including abductions of relatives of persons seum of Art. The Utah Cultural Arts Founda- known to the Helsinki Commission, which I co- suspected of belonging to illegal armed fac- tion will manage the museum and ensure the chair, and colleagues there recall her 2006 tions; and ongoing intimidation of the media masterpieces of Mr. Friberg will be enjoyed by visit to discuss the situation in Chechnya. Like and civil society, among others. generations to come. Estemirova, all too many of her fellow human Ramzan Kadyrov’s utter contempt for Mr. Friberg’s patriotic depictions of General rights defenders and journalists are targeted human rights and fundamental freedoms was , his sketches for the because they have the temerity to speak out again manifested recently in his reaction to famed ‘‘The Ten Commandments’’ movie, and about human rights abuses. paintball gun attacks against women on the his paintings of individuals and events from Today, inspired by Estemirova’s work, I in- streets of Grozny apparently because they The will forever be remem- troduce a measure expressing solidarity with were not wearing headscarves. Instead of bered in this newly created Museum. human rights defenders in the Russian Fed- condemning the assaults, the Chechen presi- In preparation of what became Mr. Friberg’s eration; urging the Russian authorities to take dent reportedly praised the perpetrators. While defining artistic moment, Mr. Friberg traveled appropriate steps to end the harassment, per- Kadyrov has largely been given free rein in to Valley Forge, in the dead of winter, to iden- secution and attacks against activists; and Chechnya, that does not absolve his backers tify with the bitter conditions General George calling for an end to impunity for those respon- in Moscow from responsibility for the deterio- Washington and the experi- sible for such acts, including through the con- rating human rights situation in that part of the enced during the winter of 1777–1778. As Mr. ducting of timely, transparent and thorough Russian Federation. Friberg put it, ‘‘Art to me is a service, to bring criminal investigations into the unresolved As a participating State of the Organization enrichment to people’s lives. That’s why I want murders of human rights defenders, journal- for Security and Cooperation in Europe, it is my art to be perfectly understood. One of the ists, and political opposition members and the incumbent upon the Russian authorities to en- things I work for is clarity.’’ The completed prosecution of all of those responsible for sure that fundamental freedoms are respected piece was released during an American bicen- these crimes. throughout the country, including in the North tennial ceremony and captures the very es- The Helsinki Commission has been at the Caucasus. Turning a blind eye to human sence of American pride and patriotism. For forefront of drawing attention to the human rights violations is unacceptable. I urge Presi- those of you who have seen ‘‘The Prayer at rights situation in Chechnya and elsewhere in dent Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin to Valley Forge’’, the suffering, the pressure, and the North Caucasus region of Russia, having take effective measures to stop the harass- General Washington’s faith in America is per- held numerous hearings and briefings. Not- ment, persecution and attacks against human fectly understood and visualized. withstanding the assertions by the powers that activists and journalists in the Russian Federa- be in Moscow that the situation in Chechnya In the 1950’s, Mr. Friberg partnered with tion and to end the impunity for those respon- has returned to normal, the reality on the Hollywood producer Cecil B. DeMille to serve sible for the murder of Natalya Estemirova and ground reveals otherwise. The recently re- as chief artist and designer for DeMille’s epic others. Only then will there be hope that the leased 2009 Country Reports on Human motion-picture, ‘‘The Ten Commandments.’’ situation in Chechnya will return to anything Rights Practices, issued by the Department of Mr. Friberg’s 15 paintings for ‘‘The Ten Com- approaching normal. State, found that the Russian government’s al- mandments’’ served as the pictorial basis for f ready poor human rights record in the North the scenes, characters, and costumes of the Caucasus worsened during the reporting pe- IN HONOR OF legendary film. For his efforts, Mr. Friberg riod, with a marked increase in extrajudicial STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRYAN earned an Academy Award Nomination in killings by both government and rebel forces BARBIN AND HIS EFFORTS TO 1956. and politically motivated disappearances in RAISE AWARENESS OF TRAU- Other famous works include Mr. Friberg’s Chechnya as well as in neighboring Ingushetia MATIC BRAIN INJURY work for his church, The Church of Jesus and Dagestan. The Helsinki Commission re- Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mr. Friberg painted mains deeply concerned over ongoing human HON. MARK S. CRITZ and designed covers for the children’s maga- rights abuses, legal impunity, and the perme- OF PENNSYLVANIA zine, The Friend, and has depicted well-known ating climate of fear in the North Caucasus. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES scenes and moments from The Book of Mor- While one cannot discount that terrorist ele- mon. These paintings are loved and cele- ments are responsible for some of the rights Tuesday, July 20, 2010 brated by members of the LDS Church around violations in that region, many of the reported Mr. CRITZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to the world. abuses are perpetrated by federal and local recognize the hundreds of thousands of U.S. Mr. Friberg was born in a Chicago suburb, security forces in Chechnya, including the pri- service members and veterans impacted by but by the 1950’s, he was an established resi- vate militia of Chechen strongman Ramzan traumatic brain injuries. dent of Utah. Utah Governor Gary Herbert re- Kadyrov, the republic’s Kremlin-backed presi- Earlier this morning, Congressman BILL cently called Mr. Friberg Utah’s ‘‘adopted dent. While it remains unclear what, if any role PASCRELL and I welcomed Pennsylvania State son.’’ His Utah family will miss him, but his Kadyrov had in Estemirova’s killing, his con- Representative Bryan Barbin to the U.S. Cap- memory and his artwork will live on forever. tempt for her and other human rights defend- itol. Representative Barbin completed a seven-

VerDate Mar 15 2010 13:54 Jul 29, 2013 Jkt 089102 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\BR10\E20JY0.000 E20JY0 ehiers on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD 13502 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 156, Pt. 10 July 20, 2010 day motorcycle ride through seven state cap- The international community has been ac- Specialist Chris Moon leaves behind his itals to raise awareness of the impact of trau- tively involved in developing a solution for the mother Marsha, his father, Brian, and his sis- matic brain injuries, and to deliver the fol- people of Cyprus. However, Turkey has re- ter Sunday. lowing resolution that was adopted by the peatedly ignored all international pressure in- This body and this country owe Chris and House of Representatives of the Common- cluding 75 resolutions that have been adopted his family our deepest gratitude, and we will wealth of Pennsylvania on June 23, 2010. It by the United Nations Security Council and today and forevermore honor and remember reads: more than 13 by the United Nations General him and his service to our country. Whereas, More than 1.5 million United Assembly since 1974. f States military personnel have deployed to Members of Congress along with the inter- Iraq or Afghanistan since the start of mili- national community must continue to work dili- A GENOCIDE SURVIVOR FROM tary operations in 2001, and military statis- gently to reach a comprehensive settlement of PIRAN: SARKIS SARYAN’S STORY tics show that at least 115,000 troops have the Cyprus problem We must strongly urge suffered brain injuries related to IED explo- sions since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars Turkey to respect human rights and ultimately HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF began; and withdraw its forces from Cyprus. OF CALIFORNIA Whereas, Brain injury has been labeled a Cyprus and the U.S. share a deep commit- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Af- ment to uphold the ideals of freedom, democ- ghanistan and brain injuries occurring racy, justice, human rights, and the inter- Tuesday, July 20, 2010 among soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghani- national rule of law. I believe the international Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today stan are strongly associated with post-trau- community has a moral and ethical obligation to memorialize and record a courageous story matic stress disorder and physical health problems after soldiers return home; and to stand with the Cypriots to reunify their is- of survival of the Armenian Genocide. The Ar- Whereas, Concern has been emerging about land and end the military occupation. menian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman the possible long-term effects of combat-re- f Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulted in the lated brain injuries. Significant numbers of death of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, undiagnosed injuries and the failure by med- HONORING THE SERVICE AND SAC- and children. As the U.S. Ambassador to the ical personnel to include such information in RIFICE OF UNITED STATES Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau docu- soldiers’ permanent medical files has been ARMY SPECIALIST CHRISTOPHER mented at the time, it was a campaign of identified as serious in studies prepared by J. MOON medical and army experts; and ‘‘race extermination.’’ Whereas, Without diagnosis and official The campaign to annihilate the Armenian documentation, soldiers with head wounds HON. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS people failed, as illustrated by the proud Ar- have struggled to receive appropriate treat- OF menian nation and prosperous diaspora. It is ment, sometimes receiving psychotropic IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES difficult if not impossible to find an Armenian drugs instead of rehabilitative therapy that family not touched by the genocide, and while could help retrain their brains; and Tuesday, July 20, 2010 Whereas, The Defense and Veterans Brain there are some survivors still with us, it is im- Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise perative that we record their stories. Through Injury Center, DVBIC, in Johnstown has today to honor Specialist been assisting returning veterans with reha- the Armenian Genocide Congressional Record bilitative therapy since 2006; and Christopher J. Moon, who passed away on Project, I hope to document the harrowing sto- Whereas, In January 2009, Congress man- July 13, 2010 from wounds sustained during ries of the survivors in an effort to preserve dated DVBIC to establish an assisted living an IED attack in Afghanistan. their accounts and to help educate the Mem- pilot program to determine the best prac- Originally from Tucson, Chris was a natural bers of Congress now and in the future of the tices to rehabilitate soldiers with mild, mod- athlete and stand-out baseball player. While necessity of recognizing the Armenian Geno- erate or severe traumatic brain injuries to attending Tucson High Magnet School, he re- cide. enable them to return to their own commu- ceived many accolades including 2006 South- nities, therefore be it This is one of those stories: ern Arizona Player of the Year and a scholar- Resolved, That the House of Representa- TRANSLATED BY LEVON A. SARYAN, PH.D. tives designate July 7, 2010, as ‘‘Combat-Re- ship to the University of Arizona. lated Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Known for his outstanding personality and In January of 2008, I traveled to Beirut to Stress Disorder Awareness Day’’ in Pennsyl- attitude, Chris was always willing to help out participate in the International Symposium vania to promote public understanding and on the Culture of Cilician Armenia, which anyone who needed it. was held under the sponsorship of His Holi- encourage all citizens to help bind the ‘‘Specialist Moon was the type of person we wounds of our returning soldiers. ness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House have all heard of but have very seldom ever of Cilicia. One morning, as I took my seat in Madam Speaker, I would like to commend met,’’ said First Sergeant Derek Gondek, the meeting hall, I turned around and intro- State Representative Barbin for his advocacy Moon’s company First Sergeant. ‘‘He was one duced myself to two women scholars seated on behalf of this important cause. of those men who, no matter what he put his behind me, Dr. Verjine Svazlyan and her f mind to he became a star at it, whether it was daughter Knarik Avagyan. Both were among on the baseball field or on the battlefield. He the contingent of academics from Yerevan 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURK- who were participating in the symposium. As ISH INVASION OF THE REPUBLIC will truly be missed by his fellow warfighters.’’ we got to talking (the usual ‘‘where are you OF CYPRUS Assigned to Headquarters and Head- from, where are your parents from’’ ques- quarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Para- tions that Armenians are so fond of), Dr. chute Infantry Regiment, part of the Army’s Svazlian removed from her briefcase a small HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, book that she had written and opened it to a OF CALIFORNIA Chris was on a combat mission in the page containing several photographs. After IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Arghandab Valley when he triggered an IED searching for a moment, she pointed to one Tuesday, July 20, 2010 device, wounding him severely. Chris suc- of the photos. It was a picture of my father, whose account was one of several hundred Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. cumbed to his injuries at Landstuhl Regional that Dr. Svazlian has been collecting over Madam Speaker, today marks the 36th anni- Medical Center in Germany on July 13, 2010. the years. Dr. Svazlyan transcribed my fa- versary of Turkey’s invasion of the Republic of We remember Chris and offer our deepest ther’s story in July 1999 at the Louvre Mu- Cyprus. July 20, 1974 began the Turkish oc- condolences and sincerest prayers to his fam- seum in Paris, when they were both attend- cupation of the northern part of Cyprus and to ily. My words cannot effectively convey the ing the Sixth International Conference of Ar- this day 43,000 Turkish troops occupy nearly feeling of great loss nor can they offer ade- menian Linguistics. My father’s account was 37 percent of Cyprus’ territory. quate consolation. However, it is my hope that not contained in the small book she showed Since 1974, the people of Cyprus have en- in future days, his family may take some com- me, but it is recorded in Armenian in Dr. Svazlyan’s major work, Hayots dured mass violation of their human rights and fort in knowing that Chris made a difference in Tseghaspanutiun: Aganades Verabroghneri fundamental freedom along with forcible ethnic the lives of many others and serves as an ex- Vgayutiunneruh (Armenian Genocide: The segregation. The people of Cyprus also wit- ample of a competent and caring leader and Testimonies of Eyewitness Survivors), pub- nessed the destruction of their culture and friend that will live on in the hearts and minds lished in Yerevan by the Republic of Arme- their religious heritage destroyed. of all those he touched. nia National Academy of Sciences in 2000.

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