[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 54 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1653-H1654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker: Sarkis Papazian, Elizabeth Khatchadourian, 
David Khatchadourian, Haroutiun Barseghian, Annik Mugurdichian, Mari 
Zadoian, Ghazar Ghazarian, Zkon Chouldjian, Takvor Kazandjian, Hagop 
Kazandjian, Avedis Aghjayan, Garabed Garabedian, Tavriz Garabedian, 
Shoushanig Garabedian. These are a few, a precious few, of the more 
than 1.5 million men, women, and children who lost their lives in the 
first genocide of the 20th century.
  Ardeni Gureghian, Nazeni Kalustian, Antoine Kalfayan, Antranig 
Antoian, Rouben Gureghian, Anoushig Antoian, Mardiros Alemian, Haigaz 
Alemian, Hampartz Alemian, Caloust Alemian, Shmavon Tetezian, Sirpouhi 
Nahabedian Tetezian: 1.5 million people whose lives were as precious to 
them as our lives are to us, who loved

[[Page H1654]]

their children and were loved; who aspired for a better life just as we 
aspire for a better life for ourselves and our families.
  Nahabed Nahabedian, Hampartzoum Tetezian, Sarkis Tetezian, Kourken 
Tetezian, Marnos Meneshian, Hovnan and Knar Neneshian, Aghavni 
Meneshian, Elmast Meneshian, Voski Meneshian, Mgerdich Meneshian. Pray 
for us, they would say, as Ambassador Morganthau recalls in his 
memoirs; pray for us, they said as they left their homes, homes in 
which they had lived and their ancestors had lived for 2,500 years. We 
will not see you again in this life, they said, but we shall meet 
again. Pray for us.
  Kevork Meneshian, Hampar Meneshian, Eknadios Meneshian, Hripsime 
Meneshian, Senekereem Meneshian, Edmund Kalfayan, Boghos Arzougaldjian, 
Flor Megerdichian, Ohanes Nigoghosian, Karekin Sherestanian. This 
administration, our administration, the U.S. administration, prides 
itself for being plain spoken, for not engaging in the diplomatic 
nuances that often make a moral judgment, a moral position of a nation 
ambiguous.
  Then let us be plain spoken. Let us call genocide, genocide. Let us 
not minimize the deliberate murder of 1.5 million people by the Ottoman 
Empire. In this Congress, in this administration, let us be frank. By 
acknowledging the first genocide of the 20th century, we will give the 
families of the victims the justice and the peace that all the 
principles of humanity require.
  Krikor Zohrab, Vartkes Serengoulian, Siamanto, Daniel Varoujan.

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