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Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LOOKS
TO SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR
ANSWERS TO AMB. EVANS FIRING
-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Set to Consider
New Nominee on June 28th at 2:30pm
WASHINGTON, DC - Armenian Americans across the U.S. will be closely
following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearings for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland,
in hopes of gaining concrete insight into the exact nature of the
State Department's policy of complicity in Armenian Genocide denial
- particularly as it relates to the firing of the current U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
The nomination hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at 2:30
pm in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room, 419 Dirksen
Senate Office Building and is open to the public.
The hearing comes as Armenian American activists across the U.S.
continue to call on Senators to demand a full explanation for the
early recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans.
Concerned Americans can join the ANCA Congressional Call-in
Campaign to urge their Senators to attend the upcoming hearing and
press for answers by visiting:
http://capwiz.com/anca/callalert/index.t t?alertid=8836481&type=TA
Amb. Evans, who first took on his post in August 2004, spoke openly
and honestly about the Armenian Genocide in community briefings in
San Francisco, and other cities in February 2005. The Ambassador
was later forced by State Department leaders to twice recant his
statement. The American Foreign Service Association, set to award
Amb. Evans with the Christian A. Herter Award for constructive
dissent, rescinded the decision, according to the Washington Post,
following pressure from State Department officials.
Calls by Members of Congress, the media and activists for answers
to Amb. Evans' recall have been ignored or sidestepped by State
Department spokespeople, who have simply repeated the fact that
ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the U.S. President.
In recent weeks, Rep. Markey spearheaded a Congressional letter
with sixty signatories calling for clarification on the recall. In
the Senate, Massachusetts Democrats Edward Kennedy and John Kerry
registered a similar letter of concern. In previous months,
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), and
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) have each publicly
called for an explanation for the State Department decision. No
concrete answers have been provided to date.
On June 9th, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, urged Senate Foreign
Relations Committee members to demand the truth about the Evans
firing prior to confirming his replacement. "The U.S. Senate
cannot, in good conscience, approve the nomination of a new
ambassador to Armenia until the circumstances of the current
envoy's highly controversial firing are fully, officially, and
openly explained to Congress and the American people," stated
Hachikian. More broadly, the Administration needs to honestly
explain its policies concerning the Armenian Genocide. This is
especially true given that serious questions remain unanswered
concerning the role that the Turkish Government played in
Ambassador Evans' firing."
Below find a list of suggested questions that Senators may ask Amb.
Hoagland.
#####
=========================== =====================================
The Firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans:
Suggested Questions for the Ambassador to Armenia-Designate
================================ ================================
* What guidance has the Department of State given you concerning
your public statements on the Armenian Genocide?
* Has the Department of State instructed you not use the word
genocide in characterizing the Armenian Genocide?
* Has the Department of State instructed other Department of State
employees or government officials not use the word genocide in
characterizing the Armenian Genocide? If your answer is yes, was
this instruction given in writing?
* What instructions do you intend to give your Embassy staff
concerning statements about the Armenian Genocide?
* What, in your opinion, is the impact on U.S.-Armenia relations
of having an Ambassador in Yerevan who fails to properly recognize
the genocidal crime that destroyed the majority of the Armenian
people, exiled a nation from its historic homeland, and continues
to severely impact the future of the Republic of Armenia?
* What is your understanding about the recall of your predecessor?
Specifically, can you describe the events, policies, and process
that led to his recall; explain the reasons for his replacement,
and; share your views on the implications of this action on the
U.S. Embassy in Armenia?
* What training and education have you received from the
Department of State on the Armenian Genocide?
* What are your thoughts about the Armenian Genocide - as a
historical event, a moral issue, a subject of denial, and a matter
of ongoing geopolitical significance?
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.anca.org
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARMENIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LOOKS
TO SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR
ANSWERS TO AMB. EVANS FIRING
-- Senate Foreign Relations Committee Set to Consider
New Nominee on June 28th at 2:30pm
WASHINGTON, DC - Armenian Americans across the U.S. will be closely
following the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation
hearings for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland,
in hopes of gaining concrete insight into the exact nature of the
State Department's policy of complicity in Armenian Genocide denial
- particularly as it relates to the firing of the current U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
The nomination hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at 2:30
pm in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee room, 419 Dirksen
Senate Office Building and is open to the public.
The hearing comes as Armenian American activists across the U.S.
continue to call on Senators to demand a full explanation for the
early recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans.
Concerned Americans can join the ANCA Congressional Call-in
Campaign to urge their Senators to attend the upcoming hearing and
press for answers by visiting:
http://capwiz.com/anca/callalert/index.t t?alertid=8836481&type=TA
Amb. Evans, who first took on his post in August 2004, spoke openly
and honestly about the Armenian Genocide in community briefings in
San Francisco, and other cities in February 2005. The Ambassador
was later forced by State Department leaders to twice recant his
statement. The American Foreign Service Association, set to award
Amb. Evans with the Christian A. Herter Award for constructive
dissent, rescinded the decision, according to the Washington Post,
following pressure from State Department officials.
Calls by Members of Congress, the media and activists for answers
to Amb. Evans' recall have been ignored or sidestepped by State
Department spokespeople, who have simply repeated the fact that
ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the U.S. President.
In recent weeks, Rep. Markey spearheaded a Congressional letter
with sixty signatories calling for clarification on the recall. In
the Senate, Massachusetts Democrats Edward Kennedy and John Kerry
registered a similar letter of concern. In previous months,
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), and
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ) have each publicly
called for an explanation for the State Department decision. No
concrete answers have been provided to date.
On June 9th, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, urged Senate Foreign
Relations Committee members to demand the truth about the Evans
firing prior to confirming his replacement. "The U.S. Senate
cannot, in good conscience, approve the nomination of a new
ambassador to Armenia until the circumstances of the current
envoy's highly controversial firing are fully, officially, and
openly explained to Congress and the American people," stated
Hachikian. More broadly, the Administration needs to honestly
explain its policies concerning the Armenian Genocide. This is
especially true given that serious questions remain unanswered
concerning the role that the Turkish Government played in
Ambassador Evans' firing."
Below find a list of suggested questions that Senators may ask Amb.
Hoagland.
#####
=========================== =====================================
The Firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans:
Suggested Questions for the Ambassador to Armenia-Designate
================================ ================================
* What guidance has the Department of State given you concerning
your public statements on the Armenian Genocide?
* Has the Department of State instructed you not use the word
genocide in characterizing the Armenian Genocide?
* Has the Department of State instructed other Department of State
employees or government officials not use the word genocide in
characterizing the Armenian Genocide? If your answer is yes, was
this instruction given in writing?
* What instructions do you intend to give your Embassy staff
concerning statements about the Armenian Genocide?
* What, in your opinion, is the impact on U.S.-Armenia relations
of having an Ambassador in Yerevan who fails to properly recognize
the genocidal crime that destroyed the majority of the Armenian
people, exiled a nation from its historic homeland, and continues
to severely impact the future of the Republic of Armenia?
* What is your understanding about the recall of your predecessor?
Specifically, can you describe the events, policies, and process
that led to his recall; explain the reasons for his replacement,
and; share your views on the implications of this action on the
U.S. Embassy in Armenia?
* What training and education have you received from the
Department of State on the Armenian Genocide?
* What are your thoughts about the Armenian Genocide - as a
historical event, a moral issue, a subject of denial, and a matter
of ongoing geopolitical significance?