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U.S. SENATE RETURNS HOAGLAND NOMINATION TO THE PRESIDENT
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[03:20 pm] 12 December, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate, having failed to confirm Dick
Hoagland to serve as Ambassador to Armenia, returned his nomination
to the President on December 8th, upon the adjournment of the 109th
Congress, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
[Ho. He. Dashnaktsutyan Washington-ee Hai Tahd-ee Krasenyag].
"With the adjournment of the 109th Congress, we renew our call upon
the President to recognize that - as a matter of basic morality - a
genocide denier should never represent the United States in Armenia,
and that - as a matter of diplomacy - a denier of the Armenian Genocide
simply cannot effectively promote U.S. interests or advance American
values in Yerevan," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.
Among the options available to the President after the convening of
the 110th Congress in January are to offer an entirely new nominee,
to resubmit Hoagland's nomination for a second round of consideration,
to make a recess appointment of Hoagland circumventing the Senate
confirmation process, or simply to allow the ambassadorial post in
Yerevan to remain empty.
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) placed a hold on the Hoagland nomination on
September 12th. In announcing this decision, the New Jersey legislator
cited the principled stand taken by former U.S. Ambassador John Evans,
who was fired for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide,
underscoring his "great concerns that Mr. Hoagland's confirmation
would be a step backward."
Citing the opposition of the Armenian American community and the
growing controversy within Congress surrounding the nomination, Senator
Menendez was joined on December 1st by incoming Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-NV) in calling on President George W. Bush to withdraw
the Hoagland nomination and propose a new candidate to serve in this
important diplomatic post.
They stressed that, in light of the broad-based opposition within
Congress, the extensive media coverage this issue has received,
and the strong stand of the Armenian American community against the
nomination, "it would serve neither our national interests nor the
U.S.-Armenia relationship to expect Ambassador-designate Hoagland to
carry out his duties under these highly contentious and profoundly
troubling circumstances."
According to Section 6 of Rule XXXI of the Standing Rules of the
Senate: "Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the session
at which they are made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding
session without being again made to the Senate by the President;
and if the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for> more than
thirty days, all nominations pending and not finally acted upon at
the time of taking such adjournment or recess shall be returned by
the Secretary to the President, and shall not again be considered
unless they shall again be made to the Senate by the President."
A1+
[03:20 pm] 12 December, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate, having failed to confirm Dick
Hoagland to serve as Ambassador to Armenia, returned his nomination
to the President on December 8th, upon the adjournment of the 109th
Congress, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
[Ho. He. Dashnaktsutyan Washington-ee Hai Tahd-ee Krasenyag].
"With the adjournment of the 109th Congress, we renew our call upon
the President to recognize that - as a matter of basic morality - a
genocide denier should never represent the United States in Armenia,
and that - as a matter of diplomacy - a denier of the Armenian Genocide
simply cannot effectively promote U.S. interests or advance American
values in Yerevan," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian.
Among the options available to the President after the convening of
the 110th Congress in January are to offer an entirely new nominee,
to resubmit Hoagland's nomination for a second round of consideration,
to make a recess appointment of Hoagland circumventing the Senate
confirmation process, or simply to allow the ambassadorial post in
Yerevan to remain empty.
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) placed a hold on the Hoagland nomination on
September 12th. In announcing this decision, the New Jersey legislator
cited the principled stand taken by former U.S. Ambassador John Evans,
who was fired for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide,
underscoring his "great concerns that Mr. Hoagland's confirmation
would be a step backward."
Citing the opposition of the Armenian American community and the
growing controversy within Congress surrounding the nomination, Senator
Menendez was joined on December 1st by incoming Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-NV) in calling on President George W. Bush to withdraw
the Hoagland nomination and propose a new candidate to serve in this
important diplomatic post.
They stressed that, in light of the broad-based opposition within
Congress, the extensive media coverage this issue has received,
and the strong stand of the Armenian American community against the
nomination, "it would serve neither our national interests nor the
U.S.-Armenia relationship to expect Ambassador-designate Hoagland to
carry out his duties under these highly contentious and profoundly
troubling circumstances."
According to Section 6 of Rule XXXI of the Standing Rules of the
Senate: "Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the session
at which they are made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding
session without being again made to the Senate by the President;
and if the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for> more than
thirty days, all nominations pending and not finally acted upon at
the time of taking such adjournment or recess shall be returned by
the Secretary to the President, and shall not again be considered
unless they shall again be made to the Senate by the President."