US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA RECALLED DUE TO STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
07.03.2006 22:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans is recalled to
Washington, reports the California Courier. John Evans has already
informed the Armenian Government on his withdrawal. His statement
on the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 was the cause
of the recall of the American Ambassador. According to the source,
the US Senate has already approved the candidacy of new Ambassador to
Armenia: incumbent Ambassador to Tajikistan Richard E. Hoagland will
take the office of the Ambassador to Armenia. It should be reminded
that during a meeting with San Francisco Armenian community February
19, 2005 J. Evans said, “recognition of the Armenian Genocide
is important.” “Today I will call it Armenian Genocide,” Evans
stated. US Administration and officials are used to avoiding the term
“genocide”. “No US official ever denied this fact – I believe playing
with words in this case would not suit Americans,” Evans said. “I
believe things should be called their proper names, however US official
policy has not changed yet, as ties with Turkey are available within
the NATO, especially in the military field.” “The Armenian Genocide
was the first genocide in the 20th century. I assure you that we are
going to work well over this problem,” John Evans added.
Later on, when delivering a speech at the US Embassy in Armenia
February 28, 2005, John Evans wished to clarify his statement, made
February 19, reports IA Regnum. “I want to explain the US policy.
The definitions on the tragedy of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey
and future status of Nagorno Karabakh that I assumed during an
unofficial meeting with the US Armenian community can give cause for
misunderstanding.” “In spite I noted that the US policy towards the
Armenian tragedy did not change, I used the word “genocide”, which
reflected my personal point of view – that of John Evans and not a
politician. However, it was inappropriate,” the Ambassador stated.
The US Embassy in Armenia refused from commenting the report to
PanARMENIAN.Net.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress