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OBAMA NOMINATES RICCIARDIONE TO SERVE AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics-lrahos18572.html
15/07/2010
ASSEMBLY UNDERSCORES KEY ISSUES IN U.S.-TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS
Washington, DC - Earlier this week, the Obama Administration
officially nominated Francis Joseph Ricciardione, Jr. to serve as
the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly).
The nomination comes at a time when Turkey's relationship with the
United States and the West is in trouble as a consequence of a series
of Turkish actions, including voting against America's position at the
United Nations on a key national security issue with respect to Iran
and nuclear nonproliferation, Turkey's embrace of the Sudanese regime,
which stands charged of committing genocide in Darfur, as well as the
'Flotilla Incident' off the Gaza Strip that has hemorrhaged Israel's
relations with Turkey.
'In the past, when Turkey's relations with the West have been rocky,
there has been a tendency to accede to Turkish denial of the Armenian
Genocide. The Assembly expects nominee Ricciardione will not do
anything less but to urge Turkey to end its campaign of denial and
come to terms with its genocidal legacy,' stated Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.
'We expect the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to press for an end of the
nearly two-decade blockade of Armenia and to ensure that Turkey
fulfill its international commitment to normalize relations with
Armenia without preconditions,' added Ardouny.
News of the nomination also coincides with the conclusion of U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's tour of the South Caucusas region,
which included a special visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial
in Yerevan. Given Secretary Clinton's gesture and her long-standing
public support for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, as well
as the public statements of President Barack Obama and Vice President
Joe Biden, the upcoming Senate confirmation process provides a timely
opportunity for the Administration to unequivocally reaffirm the
historical truth of the Armenian Genocide.
'The U.S. record of affirmation is clear as evidenced by the 1951 U.S.
filing before the International Court of Justice,' stated Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. 'Ambassador Ricciardione would be well served
to follow in the tradition of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau and advance
Turkish recognition of the consequences of the Armenian Genocide,'
continued Ardouny.
The Assembly also anticipates that the Senate will press nominee
Ricciardione on Turkey's human rights record, religious freedom and
treatment of minorities; specifically Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal code which precipitated the assassination of Armenian-Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink. The continuing delays in the trial of Dink's
accused assassin remains a serious cause for concern for the freedom
of the press in Turkey and the safety of journalists in the country.
Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. currently serves as Deputy Ambassador
and Charges d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He
previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt
(2005-2008) and served concurrently as Ambassador to the Republic of
the Philippines and the Republic of Palau from 2002 to 2005.
Ambassador Ricciardone's Foreign Service assignments include two tours
in Turkey, most recently (1995-1999) as Deputy Chief of Mission and
Charge d'Affaires; and service in Cairo, Amman, and London.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics-lrahos18572.html
15/07/2010
ASSEMBLY UNDERSCORES KEY ISSUES IN U.S.-TURKEY-ARMENIA RELATIONS
Washington, DC - Earlier this week, the Obama Administration
officially nominated Francis Joseph Ricciardione, Jr. to serve as
the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, reported the Armenian
Assembly of America (Assembly).
The nomination comes at a time when Turkey's relationship with the
United States and the West is in trouble as a consequence of a series
of Turkish actions, including voting against America's position at the
United Nations on a key national security issue with respect to Iran
and nuclear nonproliferation, Turkey's embrace of the Sudanese regime,
which stands charged of committing genocide in Darfur, as well as the
'Flotilla Incident' off the Gaza Strip that has hemorrhaged Israel's
relations with Turkey.
'In the past, when Turkey's relations with the West have been rocky,
there has been a tendency to accede to Turkish denial of the Armenian
Genocide. The Assembly expects nominee Ricciardione will not do
anything less but to urge Turkey to end its campaign of denial and
come to terms with its genocidal legacy,' stated Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny.
'We expect the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to press for an end of the
nearly two-decade blockade of Armenia and to ensure that Turkey
fulfill its international commitment to normalize relations with
Armenia without preconditions,' added Ardouny.
News of the nomination also coincides with the conclusion of U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's tour of the South Caucusas region,
which included a special visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial
in Yerevan. Given Secretary Clinton's gesture and her long-standing
public support for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, as well
as the public statements of President Barack Obama and Vice President
Joe Biden, the upcoming Senate confirmation process provides a timely
opportunity for the Administration to unequivocally reaffirm the
historical truth of the Armenian Genocide.
'The U.S. record of affirmation is clear as evidenced by the 1951 U.S.
filing before the International Court of Justice,' stated Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. 'Ambassador Ricciardione would be well served
to follow in the tradition of Ambassador Henry Morgenthau and advance
Turkish recognition of the consequences of the Armenian Genocide,'
continued Ardouny.
The Assembly also anticipates that the Senate will press nominee
Ricciardione on Turkey's human rights record, religious freedom and
treatment of minorities; specifically Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal code which precipitated the assassination of Armenian-Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink. The continuing delays in the trial of Dink's
accused assassin remains a serious cause for concern for the freedom
of the press in Turkey and the safety of journalists in the country.
Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. currently serves as Deputy Ambassador
and Charges d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He
previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt
(2005-2008) and served concurrently as Ambassador to the Republic of
the Philippines and the Republic of Palau from 2002 to 2005.
Ambassador Ricciardone's Foreign Service assignments include two tours
in Turkey, most recently (1995-1999) as Deputy Chief of Mission and
Charge d'Affaires; and service in Cairo, Amman, and London.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the
largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
From: A. Papazian