April 20, 2004

Presented by Mr. Shields

RESOLUTION 165/2004

WHEREAS, During the period leading to the breakup of the Ottoman empire, Ottoman leaders promulgated Anti-Armenia policies, including mass deportation of Armenians; and,

WHEREAS, these policies resulted in the systematic annihilation, through massacres, disease, and starvation of a large segment of the Armenian population; and,

WHEREAS, 1.5 million men, women, and children of Armenian ancestry were victims of the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 through 1923; and, WHEREAS, Armenians have historical roots and a national identity dating back three thousand years in what is now Eastern Turkey, Northwestern Iran, and South-Central Soviet Union; and,

WHEREAS, Armenians have distinctive linguistic and religious heritage within the Christian tradition.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Saturday April 24, 2004 as "A Day of Remembrance" here in the City of Pittsburgh.

Passed in Council on Tuesday April 20, 2004.


SPONSORED BY COUNCILMAN DOUGLAS SHIELDS CO SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT GENE RICCIARDI AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL LUKE RAVENSTAHL, JIM MOTZNIK, WILLIAM PEDUTO, LEN BODACK, ALAN HERTZBERG, TWANDA CARLISLE, SALA UDIN