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House members disturbed by State Department non-response to Congressional
inquiry on Ambassador Evans' firing
ArmRadio.am
18.07.2006 13:54
Members of the US House of Representatives have expressed
disappointment at the Administration's repeated failure to provide
a clear and straightforward explanation for the dismissal of US
Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, even as the State Department
issued yet another letter sidestepping the issue, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
In their response to the May 22nd letter spearheaded by Rep. Edward
Markey (D-MA) and cosigned by 60 House members, Assistant Secretary
for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey Bergner failed, once again, to address
reports that Ambassador Evans' was being recalled for his statements
on the Armenian Genocide. The letter began with the well-worn refrain
that "All Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President and as
advocates of the President's policies." He went on to argue that,
"allegations that the US is removing Ambassador Evans under pressure
from the Government of Turkey are simply untrue," despite the fact
that numerous Turkish press accounts in March of 2005 reported that
then Turkish Ambassador to the US Faruk Logoglu did indeed protest
Ambassador Evans' remarks to State Department officials.
The State Department's letter, sent to House Members on July 11th,
went on to state that "The United States has never denied the tragic
events of 1915. .
. . We believe this tragedy is of such enormous human significance that
its characterization should be determined through heartfelt dialogue,
not through diplomatic or political proclamations."
Several House Members immediately reacted to the response, expressing
concern that the State Department has, yet again, avoided providing
a clear reasoning for the Ambassador Evans firing.
In their letter to the State Department, Rep. Markey and fellow
Congressional cosigners expressed special concern about the destructive
precedent of recalling a US diplomat for speaking truthfully on
matters of historical record.
They wrote that, "we must not allow the perception to linger that
Ambassador Evans is being required to vacate his position early for
accurately labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide." The
Representatives, noting President Ronald Reagan's references to
the Armenian Genocide, reminded Secretary Rice that Amb. Evans "did
nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by
those before him."
The Congressional signatories also expressed concern about the role of
the Government of Turkey in the impending removal of Ambassador Evans
from his posting. "Were the United States to allow the views or beliefs
of a third country to interfere with our diplomatic postings to the
Republic of Armenia," wrote the House members, "it would establish a
dangerous precedent and be injurious to the long- standing relationship
built on trust and friendship between the two countries."
inquiry on Ambassador Evans' firing
ArmRadio.am
18.07.2006 13:54
Members of the US House of Representatives have expressed
disappointment at the Administration's repeated failure to provide
a clear and straightforward explanation for the dismissal of US
Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, even as the State Department
issued yet another letter sidestepping the issue, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
In their response to the May 22nd letter spearheaded by Rep. Edward
Markey (D-MA) and cosigned by 60 House members, Assistant Secretary
for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey Bergner failed, once again, to address
reports that Ambassador Evans' was being recalled for his statements
on the Armenian Genocide. The letter began with the well-worn refrain
that "All Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President and as
advocates of the President's policies." He went on to argue that,
"allegations that the US is removing Ambassador Evans under pressure
from the Government of Turkey are simply untrue," despite the fact
that numerous Turkish press accounts in March of 2005 reported that
then Turkish Ambassador to the US Faruk Logoglu did indeed protest
Ambassador Evans' remarks to State Department officials.
The State Department's letter, sent to House Members on July 11th,
went on to state that "The United States has never denied the tragic
events of 1915. .
. . We believe this tragedy is of such enormous human significance that
its characterization should be determined through heartfelt dialogue,
not through diplomatic or political proclamations."
Several House Members immediately reacted to the response, expressing
concern that the State Department has, yet again, avoided providing
a clear reasoning for the Ambassador Evans firing.
In their letter to the State Department, Rep. Markey and fellow
Congressional cosigners expressed special concern about the destructive
precedent of recalling a US diplomat for speaking truthfully on
matters of historical record.
They wrote that, "we must not allow the perception to linger that
Ambassador Evans is being required to vacate his position early for
accurately labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide." The
Representatives, noting President Ronald Reagan's references to
the Armenian Genocide, reminded Secretary Rice that Amb. Evans "did
nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by
those before him."
The Congressional signatories also expressed concern about the role of
the Government of Turkey in the impending removal of Ambassador Evans
from his posting. "Were the United States to allow the views or beliefs
of a third country to interfere with our diplomatic postings to the
Republic of Armenia," wrote the House members, "it would establish a
dangerous precedent and be injurious to the long- standing relationship
built on trust and friendship between the two countries."