Members of the U.S. Congress recall the 1915 Sayfo Genocide, in Strong solidarity with Artsakh and Armenia

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An Armenian News Agency reported that a memorial event was held on Thursday for the 1915 Sayfo Genocide committed against the Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian), Armenian and Greek peoples.

The Agency highlighted the wide participation of members of U.S. Congress, politicians and representatives of the Armenian National Committee in America (ANCA).

Warnings of recurring such massacres in the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) was also raised.

At the beginning of the event, Co-Chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus Frank Pallone thanked members of Congress and the U.S. President for their recognition of the Genocide, pointing out to the dire humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Senator Robert Menendez, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff acknowledged and recalled the Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

On the other hand, several members of Congress demanded the allocation of 10 million dollars over 5 years, to educate the Americans and write books about the Genocide in the Congress Library to inform about the systematic displacement that took place against Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian), Syriac-Maronite, Armenian, Greek and other Christian peoples, during 1915 and 1923.

Executive Director of In Defense of Christians Richard Ghazal and the ADFA organization official Steve Oshana were among the participants in the remembrance.

Ghazal stated that impunity of the Armenian Genocide gave way to committing other massacres and spreading exclusion and extermination of entire ethnic and religious groups.

“There’s been no accountability for these acts, and the absence of consequences encourages greater evil,” said Ghazal. “Even today, Turkish president Erdogan regards Christians as ‘remnants, leftovers of the sword.’  According to him, the Genocide has yet to be complete.”

Turkey has encroached on neighboring countries and even on the Christians of Nigeria, as it supplies the terrorist Boko Haram group with weapons.

Oshana, in turn, spoke about the strong relations and similarities between Syriacs, Armenians and Greeks, in terms of belief, faith and suffering.