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BUSH NOMINATES NEW ENVOY TO ARMENIA
Today's Zaman
March 31 2008
Turkey
President George W. Bush has nominated a career diplomat to be US
ambassador to Armenia after the last nominee was blocked by Democrats
because of a refusal to call World War I-era killings of Armenians a
genocide. Bush announced on Friday the nomination of Marie Yovanovitch,
who is currently ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
In August, the White House withdrew its nomination of another
career diplomat, Richard Hoagland, after Democratic Sen. Robert
Menendez held up confirmation hearings. Hoagland's predecessor,
John Evans, reportedly had his tour of duty in Armenia cut short by
the administration because, in a social setting, he referred to the
killings as "genocide." The administration has warned that even a
congressional debate on the genocide question could damage relations
with Turkey.
Armenian-American groups had sought to prevent Hoagland's nomination
unless he made a clear statement endorsing the genocide claims. One
group said Friday they expect that lawmakers will raise the issue with
Yovanovitch. "It's important to have an ambassador in Yerevan, but
it's also important to have the right ambassador," said Aram Hamparian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
It is not clear when the Senate will hold hearings on the nomination.
Today's Zaman
March 31 2008
Turkey
President George W. Bush has nominated a career diplomat to be US
ambassador to Armenia after the last nominee was blocked by Democrats
because of a refusal to call World War I-era killings of Armenians a
genocide. Bush announced on Friday the nomination of Marie Yovanovitch,
who is currently ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
In August, the White House withdrew its nomination of another
career diplomat, Richard Hoagland, after Democratic Sen. Robert
Menendez held up confirmation hearings. Hoagland's predecessor,
John Evans, reportedly had his tour of duty in Armenia cut short by
the administration because, in a social setting, he referred to the
killings as "genocide." The administration has warned that even a
congressional debate on the genocide question could damage relations
with Turkey.
Armenian-American groups had sought to prevent Hoagland's nomination
unless he made a clear statement endorsing the genocide claims. One
group said Friday they expect that lawmakers will raise the issue with
Yovanovitch. "It's important to have an ambassador in Yerevan, but
it's also important to have the right ambassador," said Aram Hamparian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
It is not clear when the Senate will hold hearings on the nomination.