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Kerry Nomination Paves Way for Menendez to Chair Senate Committee
http://asbarez.com/107276/kerry-nomination-paves-way-for-menendez-to-chair-senate-committee/
Friday, December 21st, 2012
Secretary of State nominee, Senator John Kerry with his wife, Teresa
Heinz Kerry, and ANCA leaders and activists (from l to r): Raffi
Hamparian, Michael Mahdesian, Ken Hachikian, Varant and Hoori
Melkonian.
ANCA Welcomes Legislator with Legacy of Supporting Armenian American
Issues to America's Top Diplomatic Posting
WASHINGTON - President Obama on Friday nominated long-time Armenian
American issues supporter, Senator John Kerry (D-MA), as his next
Secretary of State, with Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) widely
considered to take his place as the next Chairman of the powerful
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America.
`We welcome President Obama's nomination of Senator Kerry - a
legislator with a three decade-long record of support for Armenia and
a legacy of advocacy for the foreign policy priorities of Armenian
Americans - as our nation's next Secretary of State,' said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. `We look forward to continuing to
work constructively with Senator Kerry, now in his new role at the
Department of State, as we seek to lift Turkey's gag-rule on American
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, strengthen U.S.-Armenia ties,
and put in place freedom-based solutions that provide security to the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.'
Senator Kerry was first elected to the Senate in 1984. He succeeded
now-Vice President Joe Biden as Chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in 2009. Over the years, Senator Kerry has been a
strong advocate for Congressional affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, cosponsoring many resolutions to end U.S. complicity in
Turkey's denial of this still unpunished crime. As a member of the
Foreign Relations Committee, he pressed ambassadorial nominee to
Turkey, Francis Ricciardone about U.S. policy on the Armenian
Genocide, Turkey's blockade of Armenia, and the pending Turkey-Armenia
Protocols. He is not currently a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.
In the early 1990s, Senator Kerry was a vocal leader in support of
Senate adoption of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which
restricted U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan until it lifted its blockades
and stopped its aggression against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Earlier this year, Chairman Kerry was `shocked and appalled' at
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's pardon, praise and promotion of
convicted Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov. `This needlessly
provocative act endangers the fragile peace between these countries
and damages the government of Azerbaijan's credibility,' noted Senator
Kerry.
The ANCA had endorsed Senator Kerry in his bid for the presidency in
2004 against Republican incumbent President George W. Bush.
Senator Kerry will likely be succeeded by Senator Robert Menendez as
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Menendez
has been an outspoken advocate for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide since his years in the House of Representatives. He is the
lead sponsor for the Senate Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.399)
introduced earlier this year. Senator Menendez was joined by Senator
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in blocking the nomination of Dick Hoagland,
President George W. Bush's nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
after Hoagland denied the Armenian Genocide during his Senate
confirmation process. Later, Senators Menendez and Boxer successfully
opposed the nomination of U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza,
expressing concerns about his serious shortcomings in his track record
as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus.
Among the other changes in the Senate Committee leadership include
Senator Barbara Mikulski's selection to serve as Chairwoman of the
powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, taking over the position
from Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, who passed away earlier this week.
From: A. Papazian
http://asbarez.com/107276/kerry-nomination-paves-way-for-menendez-to-chair-senate-committee/
Friday, December 21st, 2012
Secretary of State nominee, Senator John Kerry with his wife, Teresa
Heinz Kerry, and ANCA leaders and activists (from l to r): Raffi
Hamparian, Michael Mahdesian, Ken Hachikian, Varant and Hoori
Melkonian.
ANCA Welcomes Legislator with Legacy of Supporting Armenian American
Issues to America's Top Diplomatic Posting
WASHINGTON - President Obama on Friday nominated long-time Armenian
American issues supporter, Senator John Kerry (D-MA), as his next
Secretary of State, with Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) widely
considered to take his place as the next Chairman of the powerful
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America.
`We welcome President Obama's nomination of Senator Kerry - a
legislator with a three decade-long record of support for Armenia and
a legacy of advocacy for the foreign policy priorities of Armenian
Americans - as our nation's next Secretary of State,' said ANCA
Executive Director Aram Hamparian. `We look forward to continuing to
work constructively with Senator Kerry, now in his new role at the
Department of State, as we seek to lift Turkey's gag-rule on American
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, strengthen U.S.-Armenia ties,
and put in place freedom-based solutions that provide security to the
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.'
Senator Kerry was first elected to the Senate in 1984. He succeeded
now-Vice President Joe Biden as Chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in 2009. Over the years, Senator Kerry has been a
strong advocate for Congressional affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, cosponsoring many resolutions to end U.S. complicity in
Turkey's denial of this still unpunished crime. As a member of the
Foreign Relations Committee, he pressed ambassadorial nominee to
Turkey, Francis Ricciardone about U.S. policy on the Armenian
Genocide, Turkey's blockade of Armenia, and the pending Turkey-Armenia
Protocols. He is not currently a cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution.
In the early 1990s, Senator Kerry was a vocal leader in support of
Senate adoption of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, which
restricted U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan until it lifted its blockades
and stopped its aggression against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Earlier this year, Chairman Kerry was `shocked and appalled' at
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's pardon, praise and promotion of
convicted Azerbaijani axe-murderer Ramil Safarov. `This needlessly
provocative act endangers the fragile peace between these countries
and damages the government of Azerbaijan's credibility,' noted Senator
Kerry.
The ANCA had endorsed Senator Kerry in his bid for the presidency in
2004 against Republican incumbent President George W. Bush.
Senator Kerry will likely be succeeded by Senator Robert Menendez as
Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Menendez
has been an outspoken advocate for U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide since his years in the House of Representatives. He is the
lead sponsor for the Senate Armenian Genocide Resolution (S.Res.399)
introduced earlier this year. Senator Menendez was joined by Senator
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in blocking the nomination of Dick Hoagland,
President George W. Bush's nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia,
after Hoagland denied the Armenian Genocide during his Senate
confirmation process. Later, Senators Menendez and Boxer successfully
opposed the nomination of U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza,
expressing concerns about his serious shortcomings in his track record
as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus.
Among the other changes in the Senate Committee leadership include
Senator Barbara Mikulski's selection to serve as Chairwoman of the
powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, taking over the position
from Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, who passed away earlier this week.
From: A. Papazian