Transcript: State Dept. Acting spokesman Tom Casey News Briefing

Congressional Quarterly, Inc.
March 10 2006

STATE DEPARTMENT REGULAR NEWS BRIEFING

MARCH 10, 2006

SPEAKER: TOM CASEY,
STATE DEPARTMENT ACTING SPOKESMAN

[parts omitted]

QUESTION: Is the U.S. ambassador to Armenia having his time there cut
short, maybe his career?

QUESTION: A couple of congressmen have asked Secretary Rice about it;
apparently not got an answer.

He’s supposed to have suggested that the Armenians were the victims
of genocide, which doesn’t happen to be Bush administration policy.

CASEY: I think Sean addressed this a couple of days ago.

QUESTION: I think it’s been brought further up to date, if you
could…

CASEY: I don’t have anything beyond what he said on it. I’ll look
into it for you and see if there’s any change in the situation.

QUESTION: He said ambassadors serve at the privilege of the
president, or something.

CASEY: Yes, and as far as I know, he’s still at post and still
ambassador. I’m not aware that anything has changed that situation.

QUESTION: You can’t — well, all right, if you don’t have anything
further.

CASEY: I think I’ll look into it for you. I haven’t gotten an update
on it, but I’ll try and see if there’s something and we’ll post an
answer for you later.

QUESTION: And also, somebody ghosted an answer from the secretary to
Mr. Schiff and the other congressman.

CASEY: OK. I’ll let you know.

[the rest omitted]