March 25, 2002

New York City

THE COUNCIL

March 25, 2002


Res. No. 141

Resolution declaring April 24, 2002 to be "Armenian Martyrs Day" in the City of New York, urging all people to remember the genocide of the Armenian people that was perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks, calling upon the President of the United States to vigorously pursue an acknowledgment of the genocide from modern Turkey and directing the Clerk of the City of New York to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States.

By Council Members Katz, Vallone Jr., Barron, Comrie, Diaz, Gerson, Perkins, Recchia Jr., Rivera, Sanders Jr., Sears and Weprin; also Council Member Vann

Whereas, Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Turks carried out a genocidal campaign that led to the extermination of 1,500,000 Armenians and the deportation of countless other Armenians; and

Whereas, During the genocide, Armenians were forced to witness the rape, mutilation and slaughter of their families, the desecration of their churches, the looting of their personal property, the dispossession of their real property and the loss of their ancestral homeland; and

Whereas, The ancestral homeland of the Armenian people taken by the Ottoman Turks has not been returned to the Armenian people, nor have Armenians received compensation for their losses; and

Whereas, The denial of the genocide by modern Turkey dishonors the memory of the forefathers of all living Armenians; and

Whereas, Armenians have traditionally designated April 24th as Armenian Martyrs Day in recognition and remembrance of those who perished during the genocide; and

Whereas, The year 2002 marks the 87th anniversary of the genocide; and

Whereas, It is of utmost importance to remember the past so that its atrocities are not repeated; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares April 24, 2002 to be "Armenian Martyrs Day" in the City of New York, urges all people around the world to remember the genocide of the Armenian people that was perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks, calls upon the President of the United States to vigorously pursue acknowledgment of the genocide from modern Turkey and directs the Clerk of the City of New York to forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States.

Adopted.