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ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA: SENATOR MENENDES LOSES CONFIDENCE IN AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE TO TURKEY
Tert.am
12:25 14.09.11
Today, during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting
to consider a slate of Administration nominees for ambassadorial posts,
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) cited his loss of confidence in the
US envoy to Turkey Francis Ricciardone given his careless response
regarding minority rights in Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA).
Specifically, Senator Menendez stated: "his [Ricciardone's] response
indicates that he either did not carefully review the responses that
were submitted in his name or worse that he truly was unaware of the
history of the Christian church in Turkey and the difficulties that
Christian churches continue to face in that country. His response
indicates a lack of focus or interest in issues affecting the Armenian
community and sends a message to Turkey that the Armenia issue is not
an "A-list" issue. We need an Ambassador in Ankara that can support,
defend and advocate on behalf of all of the United States' interests
vis-à-vis Turkey. Unfortunately, I've lost confidence in the ability
of Mr. Ricciardone to undertake that task and will not be able to
support his nomination."
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) followed
up on Menendez's remarks adding that Mr. Ricciardone's response was
"unacceptable, incorrect and inappropriate."
The Armenian Assembly previously expressed its strong concerns with
respect to Ricciardone's responses and, in its August letter to
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urged "immediate action" to
correct Ricciardone's disconcerting statement which "in the context
of the planned extermination of the Armenian people and the documented
destruction of its religious and cultural heritage is as much offensive
as it is shocking."
In the end, Senators Menendez, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Jim Risch
(R-ID) voted against Ricciardone's nomination, with Senators Jeanne
Shaheen (D-NH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) also raising concerns about
Ricciardone's troubling response on minority rights and religious
freedom in Turkey.
In the course of today's Senate Foreign Relations Committee business
meeting, four additional nominees were approved, including John Heffern
to serve as Ambassador to Armenia. The next step in the process is
for approval by the full Senate.
"The Armenian Assembly calls upon the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee to undertake a full assessment of the current situation
of Armenian churches and other such religious sites and monuments in
Turkey, and formulate legislation therein to enhance religious freedom
in Turkey and protect and preserve what remains of its Christian
heritage," stated Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
Tert.am
12:25 14.09.11
Today, during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting
to consider a slate of Administration nominees for ambassadorial posts,
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) cited his loss of confidence in the
US envoy to Turkey Francis Ricciardone given his careless response
regarding minority rights in Turkey, reported the Armenian Assembly
of America (AAA).
Specifically, Senator Menendez stated: "his [Ricciardone's] response
indicates that he either did not carefully review the responses that
were submitted in his name or worse that he truly was unaware of the
history of the Christian church in Turkey and the difficulties that
Christian churches continue to face in that country. His response
indicates a lack of focus or interest in issues affecting the Armenian
community and sends a message to Turkey that the Armenia issue is not
an "A-list" issue. We need an Ambassador in Ankara that can support,
defend and advocate on behalf of all of the United States' interests
vis-à-vis Turkey. Unfortunately, I've lost confidence in the ability
of Mr. Ricciardone to undertake that task and will not be able to
support his nomination."
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) followed
up on Menendez's remarks adding that Mr. Ricciardone's response was
"unacceptable, incorrect and inappropriate."
The Armenian Assembly previously expressed its strong concerns with
respect to Ricciardone's responses and, in its August letter to
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urged "immediate action" to
correct Ricciardone's disconcerting statement which "in the context
of the planned extermination of the Armenian people and the documented
destruction of its religious and cultural heritage is as much offensive
as it is shocking."
In the end, Senators Menendez, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Jim Risch
(R-ID) voted against Ricciardone's nomination, with Senators Jeanne
Shaheen (D-NH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) also raising concerns about
Ricciardone's troubling response on minority rights and religious
freedom in Turkey.
In the course of today's Senate Foreign Relations Committee business
meeting, four additional nominees were approved, including John Heffern
to serve as Ambassador to Armenia. The next step in the process is
for approval by the full Senate.
"The Armenian Assembly calls upon the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee to undertake a full assessment of the current situation
of Armenian churches and other such religious sites and monuments in
Turkey, and formulate legislation therein to enhance religious freedom
in Turkey and protect and preserve what remains of its Christian
heritage," stated Armenian Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.