REP. MARKEY LEADS CONGRESSIONAL OPPOSITION TO WHITE HOUSE RECALL OF
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

WASHINGTON, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Over 60 Members of
Congress, led by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), sent a letter to Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice asking for clarification on reports of
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans’ recall over his forthright
remarks about the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America. The letter was sent on the eve of a May 23rd
White House announcement nominating Richard Hoagland to serve as the
new Ambassador to Armenia. Amb. Evans will be relieved of his duties
as soon as Hoagland’s Senate confirmation process is completed.
According to the ANCA, the Administration has recalled Amb. Evans over
his February 2005 statements at Armenian American community functions,
during which he properly characterized the Armenian Genocide as
‘genocide.’ Following his statements, Amb. Evans was apparently forced
to issue a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian
Genocide were his personal views and did not represent a change in US
policy. He subsequently issued a correction to this statement,
replacing a reference to the genocide with the word “tragedy.” The
American Foreign Service Association, which had planned to honor
Amb. Evans with the “Christian A. Herter Award,” recognizing creative
thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service,
reportedly rescinded the award following pressure from the State
Department a few days before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan traveled to Washington, DC to meet with President Bush.

“Ambassador Evans has been recalled for doing nothing more than
honoring the forsaken pledge of his president,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. “We want to thank Congressman Markey and his
59 colleagues for calling for a clarification and rejecting the
Armenian Genocide ‘gag-rule’ imposed by the Turkish government and,
sadly, enforced by our own State Department.” “Armenian Americans
truly regret that the Administration lacks the courage to speak
honestly about its reasons for firing Ambassador Evans,” added
Hamparian.

“We call upon the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – the
Congressional panel constitutionally charged with oversight of
diplomatic appointments – to hold a hearing thoroughly examining the
reasons behind this firing, the role of the Turkish government, and
the broader implications for the future of the Foreign Service that a
senior American diplomat’s career has been ended simply for speaking
the truth.” The 60 Members of Congress expressed special concern about
the destructive precedent of recalling a U.S. diplomat for speaking
truthfully on matters of historical record. They wrote that, “we must
not allow the perception to linger that he [Amb. Evans] is being
required to vacate his position early for accurately labeling the
cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide.” The Representatives, noting
President Ronald Reagan’s references to the Armenian Genocide,
reminded Secretary Rice that Amb. Evans “did nothing more than
succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by those before him.”
The Congressional signatories also expressed concern about the role of
the Government of Turkey in the impending removal of Amb. Evans from
his posting.

“Were the United States to allow the views or beliefs of a third
country to interfere with our diplomatic postings to the Republic of
Armenia,” wrote the House members, “it would establish a dangerous
precedent and be injurious to the long- standing relationship built on
trust and friendship between the two countries.” “I am seriously
concerned at the early departure of Ambassador Evans,” stated
Rep. Markey. “I hope that this sudden action by the State Department
is not related to comments made by Ambassador Evans about the Armenian
genocide. 60 members of Congress have signed on to a letter to
Secretary Rice asking questions about whether or not Ambassador Evans
was forced out of his post. I look forward to a response from the
State Department.” Several Members of Congress, including
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) have each called on
Secretary Rice for a clarification of the State Department’s position
on this issue. Members of Congress joining Rep. Markey in cosigning
the letter to Secretary Rice were: Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy
Baldwin (D-WI), Charles Bass (R-NH), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Shelley
Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Sherrod
Brown (D-OH), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Emanuel
Cleaver (D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Barney Frank
(D-MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Charlie Gonzalez
(D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Stephanie Herseth (D-SD), Rush Holt
(D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Sue Kelly (R-NY),
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI),
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn
Maloney (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael
McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Candice Miller (R- MI), Grace
Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Devin Nunes (R- CA), John
Olver (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Collin
Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R- MI), Steven
Rothman (D-NJ), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Linda Sanchez (D- CA), Adam Schiff
(D-CA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Joe Schwarz (R- MI), Mark Souder
(R-IN), Ted Strickland (D-OH), John Tierney (D- MA), Mark Udall
(D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Diane
Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Anthony Weiner (D-NY).