ANCA CALLS ON SENATORS TO DEMAND FULL EXPLANATION OF EVANS FIRING

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 12 2006

WASHINGTON, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) urged U.S. Senators to demand a
full and open explanation of the highly controversial firing of the
current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, before the Senate
moves to confirm a new envoy to Yerevan. In June 9th letters, ANCA
Chairman Ken Hachikian encouraged Senators to vigorously investigate
the reasons behind the Administration’s decision to recall the
Ambassador more than a year prior to the end of his normal term of
office. The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Fresno Bee
have reported that the State Department’s actions against Ambassador
Evans were due to his comments, made during February, 2005 speeches
to Armenian American audiences, accurately and openly describing the
Armenian Genocide as a clear instance of genocide. Despite more than
60 Members of Congress having called for an official explanation of
the Administration’s policies and actions on this matter, over the past
four months the White House and State Department have yet to offer any
meaningful explanation about the dismissal of this highly-regarded,
35-year veteran of the Foreign Service. Hachikian stressed, in his
letters, that, “The U.S. Senate cannot, in good conscience, approve the
nomination of a new ambassador to Armenia until the circumstances of
the current envoy’s highly controversial firing are fully, officially,
and openly explained to Congress and the American people. More broadly,
the Administration needs to honestly explain its policies and actions
concerning the Armenian Genocide. This is especially true given
that serious questions remain unanswered concerning the role that a
foreign nation – the Turkish Government – played in Ambassador Evans’
firing.” The ANCA letter closed with Hachikian urging Senators to delay
the final approval of the incoming ambassador until the Administration
clearly and openly explains its policies and actions in connection to
the firing of Ambassador Evans. Hachikian’s letters to the 18 members
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee addressed their special
oversight during the panel’s upcoming confirmation hearing for the
President’s nominees to serve as the next Ambassador to Armenia.