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 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.