Webindia123, India
June 10 2005

Ambassador’s remarks stir row:-
WASHINGTON | June 10, 2005 12:11:26 AM IST

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans’ remarks criticizing the
Ottoman Empire for genocide in 1915 apparently cost him a prestigious
foreign service award.

Evans was in line for the American Foreign Service Association’s
Christian A. Herter Award for constructive dissent. But his remarks
characterizing the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide
stirred such a diplomatic dust-up, he was forced to retract his
remarks — and then clarify his retraction.

Association President John M. Limbert told the Washington Post he
couldn’t remember an award being withdrawn before.

Evans made his controversial remarks during an appearance before an
Armenian group in California. Armenians hailed the remarks while
Turkey condemned them.