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Pelosi Statement Commemorating the Armenian Genocide

April 24, 2013

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in recognition of the 98th anniversary of the Armenian genocide:

“On this solemn anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we pause to remember the victims and honor the survivors of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century. Too often, the truth of these horrific events has been denied, yet the historical record is clear: from 1915 to 1923, the leaders of the Ottoman Empire conceived and carried out a genocide against the Armenian people.

“International observers and diplomats to the Ottoman Empire, including U.S. Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, watched a nightmare unfurl and provided detailed first-hand accounts of ‘a campaign of race extermination.’ This week almost one hundred years ago, the voices of the more than 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were silenced forever. We must never forget. We must learn from this dark hour of history. Indeed, there is no greater tribute to their memories than our commitment to act to prevent genocide in our time.

“If we ignore the mistakes of the past, then we are destined to repeat them. That’s why it is critical, year in and year out, to reaffirm our dedication to recognizing the Armenian genocide and to placing the U.S. Congress firmly on the side of honesty in our history. On this anniversary, it is our responsibility to embrace the truth and build a brighter future.”

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