ANKARA: Evans Had To Correct His Statement Again After Apology

Turkish Press
March 3 2005

Evans Had To Correct His Statement Again After Using ”genocide” In
His Apology

WASHINGTON – US Ambassador in Yerevan John Evans had to correct his
statement one more time using the expression ”genocide” regarding
the relocation of some Armenians under Ottoman rule during the past
century, despite formal policy of the United States.

Evans, at a meeting he had with the representatives of Armenian
community living in the United States, criticized formal policy of
Washington, affirming that the incidents should be described as
”genocide”.

As a reaction, US State Department posted a statement of apology
signed by Evans, on the website of US’s Yerevan Embassy. In this
apology, Evans said that to use the term of ”genocide” was his
personal position, refuting any change in US policy. Evans also
apologized for causing misunderstandings.

However Evans, in his apology, said, ”there was no change in
Armenian genocide policy of US”, and secretly included the term
”genocide” to the text.

Turkey’s Ambassador in Washington Faruk Logolu reacted to this.
Ambassador Logoglu reminded his interlocutors in the State Department
that the United States did not recognize ”Armenian genocide” noting
the expression in Evans’ apology was unacceptable.

Justifying Turkey’s warning, US State Department made Evans to issue
a ”correction” for the apology.