Mr. Speaker, today marks the 84th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
As a result of forced relocations and massacres, up to 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire fell victim to the first genocide of this century. Such policies today are often called “ethnic cleansing”. However, the fact that these atrocities are still taking place should not detract from the horror of the Armenian experience.
Sadly, we know all too well that what happened to the Armenians was not the last time such things would occur and we should take a moment to condemn all crimes against humanity.
Some say perhaps people will no longer commit such atrocities and we must strive for this. The Armenian ethnic cleansing reminds us of the consequences of ethnic hatred. We must always guard against the forces that yield such evil.
I know the House will join me in remembering the victims of the Armenian genocide.