SENATE PANEL PRESSES PROPOSED US ENVOY FOR CLEAR EXPLANATION OF US POLICY ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmRadio.am
29.06.2006 12:05

Senate Foreign Relations Committee members George Allen (R-VA) and
Norm Coleman (R-MN) bombarded US Ambassador to Armenia Designate
Richard Hoagland with questions about official US complicity in
Turkey’s campaign of Genocide denial, questioning him, during his
confirmation hearing, regarding his ability to effectively represent
the United States in Armenia without properly recognizing the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

At the hearing, Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), joined with Senators
Coleman and Allen in sharply criticizing the Administration’s refusal
to speak truthfully on the Armenian Genocide. Senator Boxer, who
was unable to attend the hearing, submitted written questions to
Ambassador Hoagland.

The hearing was marked by repeated calls upon Ambassador Hoagland to
clarify the State Department’s policy on the Armenian Genocide. If
approved, he will replace the current US Ambassador to Armenia, John
Marshall Evans, who – amid great controversy – has been recalled over
his truthful description of the Armenian Genocide in February of 2005.