[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1604-H1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, Hagop Bekerjian, Hranoush Boghosian, Gohar 
Madoyan, the Partamian brothers from Adana, Knarik Davoudian, Mari 
Filian, Hripsime Stambolian, Asadour Stambolian, Haroutiun Stambolian, 
Grigor Stambolian.
  These are a few, a precious few, of the 1.5 million men, women, and 
children that lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Empire 
between 1915 and 1923. Eighty-seven years ago, Armenian teachers, 
clergy, businessmen, writers, and doctors were rounded up and killed. 
The events of April 24, 1915,

[[Page H1605]]

set the stage for the first genocide of the 20th century.
  Nikoghos Achabahian, Boghos Katchadourian, Mariam Katchadourian, 
Takouhi Katchadourian, Hovsep Katchadourian, Manoug Baronian, Peprouhi 
Baronian, Antaram Antaramian, Yeghsapert Vartabedian, Haroutune 
Antaramian, Ashod Antaramian, Naomi Antaramian, Anagule Antaramian.
  They were fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, aunts, uncles, and 
grandparents. They were whole families. They were a people, and they 
were nearly wiped out.
  Garabed Hovagimian, Mariam Hovagimian, Garabed Hovagimian, Jr., 
Siranoush Hovagimian, Boghos Hovagimian, Zarouhi Chavooshian Norsigian, 
Dickran Chavooshian, Arshalous Norsigian, Zabelle Norsigian, Zabelle 
Norsigian, Solomon Norsigian, Hatoon Chavooshian, Ardash Chavooshian.

                              {time}  1600

  You might imagine that after the passage of so much time and with the 
presence of so many Americans of Armenian origin, U.S. recognition of 
the events of April 24 and the genocide that followed would be routine 
and noncontroversial. Instead, debate over the Armenian genocide has 
been an annual and bitter conflict.
  Mac Norsigian, Nazely Norsigian Sarkisian, Serpouhi Norsigian Kloian, 
Poompul Norsigian Bazoian, Souren Sarkisian, Makrouhi Kapoian 
Norsigian, Nareg Norsigian Sarkisian, Nevart Arslanian Vartanian, 
Sarkis Vartanian.
  Even though modern-day Turkey was established in 1923 out of the 
ashes of the Ottoman Empire and was not the actual perpetrator of the 
genocide, it spends millions of dollars each year on the best 
lobbyists, engages sympathetic allies on its behalf, and routinely 
threatens to sever diplomatic, military, and economic ties with the 
United States anytime the Armenian genocide is brought up.
  Haig Kurkjian, Armen Kurkjian, Sultan Kurkjian, Savgul Kurkjian 
Bugdoian, Boghos Mergeanian, Garabed Savulian, Zakar Savulian, Hagop 
Saroian, Sooren Saroian, Aslik Saroian, Goharik Saroian.
  Despite this concerted effort, there is no serious academic dispute 
about the Armenian genocide. Some of the most notable Holocaust and 
genocide scholars, including Israel Charny, Deborah Lipstadt, and 
Robert J. Lifton, among many others, join in the call for recognition. 
International law scholar Raphael Lemkin, who coined the word genocide 
in 1943, cited the Armenian case as an example.
  And all those people.
  Toros Chaglassian, Haroutiun Keusseyan, Zabel Keusseyan, Loussin 
Keusseyan, Hovannes Keusseyan, Garabed Keusseyan, Boghos Sarkissian, 
Dickranouhi Sarkissian, Carmen Sarkissian.
  They are not simply names. They were not simply part of the 1.5 
million number. They are people. They are children. They are mothers 
and fathers.
  Our own National Archives housed diplomatic dispatches from U.S. 
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau and Consul Leslie Davis to the State 
Department, vividly describing the systematic destruction of an entire 
people. News accounts in the American press, most notably the New York 
Times, provide another trove of primary source evidence.
  Who are they? They are:
  Kasbar Jeboghlian, Toukhman Jeboghlian, Kevork Jeboghlian, Mariam 
Jeboghlian, Barkev Jeboghlian, Yeranig Deukmedjian, Haiganoush 
Deukmedjian, Rosa Deukmedjian, Hovhannes Deukmedjian, Arshalouys 
Deukmedjian, Kevork Deukmedjian, Mariam Jeboghlian.
  Because of Turkey's important strategic role in NATO, America has 
been reluctant to speak out. But U.S.-Turkish relations are strong and 
can survive our recognition of the Armenian genocide.
  Hagop Momjian, Nevart Sarkissian, Bedross Shemessian, Hovhannes 
Shemessian, Boghos Shemessian, Ester Shemessian, Lucia Shemessian, 
Takouhi Tejirian, Makrouhi Tejirian, Ashod Tejirian, Sahag Shamassian.
  Euphemisms, vague terminology, or calls for discussions to get at the 
truth have been used to avoid discomfort with Turkey's Ottoman past. 
Let me just conclude by saying the United States is fighting an 
unconventional enemy in the war on terrorism. Winning that war requires 
a level of more clarity that can provide a vision for struggling people 
in nations everywhere. So let us call genocide genocide. Let us not 
minimize the deliberate murder of 1.5 million people. Let us have a 
moral victory that can shine as a light to all nations.
  Hagop Berkerjian, Hranoush Boghosian, Gohar Madoyan, the Partamian 
Brothers from Adana, Knarik Davoudian, Mari Filian, Hripsime 
Stambolian, Asadour Stambolian, Haroutiun Stambolian, Grigor 
Stambolian. These are a few, a precious few, of the 1.5 million men, 
women, and children who lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman 
Empire between 1915-1923.
  Eighty-seven years ago today, Armenian teachers, clergy, businessmen, 
writers, and doctors were rounded up and killed. The events of April 
24, 1915 set the stage for the first genocide of the 20th Century.
  Nikoghos Achabahian, Boghos Khatchadourian, Mariam Khatchadourian, 
Takouhi Khatchadourian, Hovsep Khatchadourian, Manoug Baronian, 
Peprouhi Baronian, Antaram Antaramian, Yeghsapert Vartabedian, 
Haroutune Antaramian, Ashod Antaramian, Naomi Antaramian, Anagule 
Antaramian. They were fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, aunts, 
uncles, and grandparents. They were whole families. They were a people 
and nearly wiped out.
  Garabed Hovagimian, Mariam Hovagimian, Garabed Hovagimian, Jr., 
Siranoush Hovagimian, Boghos Hovagimian, Zarouhi Chavooshian Norsigian, 
Dickran Chavooshian, Arshalous Norsigian, Zabelle Norsigian, Solomon 
Norsigian, Hatoon Chavooshian, Ardash Chavooshian.
  You might imagine that after the passage of so much time, and with 
the presence of so many Americans of Armenian origin, United States 
recognition of the events of April 24th and the genocide that followed 
would be routine and non-controversial. Instead, debate over the 
Armenian Genocide has been an annual and bitter conflict.
  Mac Norsigian, Nazely Norsigian Sarkisian, Serpouhi Norsigian Kloian, 
Poompul Norsigian Bazoian, Souren Sarkisian, Makrouhi Kapoian 
Norsigian, Nareg Norsigian Sarkisian, Nevart Arslanian Vartanian, 
Sarkis Vartanian.
  Even though modern-day Turkey was established in 1923 out of the 
ashes of the Ottoman Empire and was not the actual perpetrator of 
genocide, it spends millions of dollars each year on the best 
lobbyists, engages sympathetic allies on its behalf, and routinely 
threatens to sever diplomatic, military and economic ties with the 
United States any time the Armenian Genocide is brought up.
  Haig Kurkjian, Armen Kurkjian, Sultan Kurkjian, Savgul Kurkjian 
Bugdoian, Boghos Mergeanian, Garabed Savulian, Zakar Savulian, Hagop 
Saroian, Sooren Saroian, Aslik Saroian, Goharik Saroian.
  Despite this concerted effort, there is no serious academic dispute 
about the Armenian Genocide. Some of the most notable Holocaust and 
Genocide scholars, including Israel Charny, Deborah Lipstadt, and 
Robert Jay Lifton, among many others join the call for recognition. 
International law scholar Raphael Lemkin, who coined the word genocide 
in 1943, cited the Armenian case as an example.
  Toros Chaglassian, Haroutiun Keusseyan, Zabel Keusseyan, Loussin 
Keusseyan, Hovannes Keusseyan, Garabed Keusseyan, Boghos Sarkissian, 
Dickranouhi Sarkissian, Carmen Sarkissian.
  Our own National Archives house diplomatic dispatches from U.S. 
Ambassador Henry Morgenthau and Consul Leslie Davis to the State 
Department, vividly describing the systematic destruction of an entire 
people. News accounts from the American press, most notably the New 
York Times, provide another trove of primary source evidence.
  Kasbar Jeboghlian, Toukhman Jeboghlian, Kevork Jeboghlian, Mariam 
Jeboghlian, Barkev Jeboghlian, Yeranig Deukmedjian, Haiganoush 
Deukmedjian, Rosa Deukmedjian, Hovhannes Deukmedjian, Arshalouys 
Deukmedjian, Kevork Deukmedjian, Mariam Jeboghlian.
  Because of Turkey's important strategic role in NATO, America has 
been reluctant to speak out. But U.S.-Turkish relations are strong and 
can survive our recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
  Hagop Momjian, Nevart Sarkissian, Bedross Shemessian, Hovhannes 
Shemessian, Boghos Shemessian, Ester Shemessian, Lucia Shemessian, 
Takouhi Tejirian, Makrouhi Tejirian, Ashod Tejirian, Sahag Shamassian.
  Some argue that recognition of the genocide has become even more 
problematic now, when the world is at war with terrorism and the United 
States cannot afford to offend the sensibility of our Turkish ally. In 
fact, the converse is true: At a time when the United States has been 
called on for a level of moral

[[Page H1606]]

leadership, vision and inspiration not seen since World War II, we 
cannot afford to dissemble about crimes against humanity.
  Khatoun Jilizian, Lucia Jilizian, Alice Jilizian, Minas Serop 
Jilizian, Kevork Serop Jilizian, Haroutioun Aydabirian, Hagop 
Donabedian, Hripsimeh Bedoyan, Margaret Bedoyan.
  Euphemisms, vague terminology or calls for discussions to get at the 
truth are just some of the dodges used to avoid Turkish discomfort with 
its Ottoman past. What is there to discuss about the Armenian Genocide? 
What facts are there left to discover? What is to be gained by 
referring to the systematic slaughter of an entire people without using 
the word most appropriate for those grotesque circumstances?
  The short answer is that there is nothing to discuss, nothing to 
discover, nothing to be gained by denial--and much to be lost. The 
United States is fighting an unconventional enemy in the war on 
terrorism, and one against whom our overwhelming military might 
provides only one necessary weapon. Winning the war on terrorism will 
also require a level of moral clarity that can provide a vision for 
struggling people and nations everywhere. Only military force 
accompanied by an equally strong moral force will provide the essential 
combination to route out terrorism and prevent its reemergence.
  So let us call genocide, genocide. Let us not minimize the deliberate 
murder of 1.5 million people. Let us have a moral victory that can 
shine as a light to all nations. These people lived. They dreamed of 
their futures, as we dream about ours. They loved their family and 
life. Their voices were silenced in the desert, but we can respect 
their memory. And we must.
  Sarkis Dadaian, Varouhi Minassian, Miriam Derderian, Yeghsa 
Derderian.

                          ____________________