Senate delays confirmation vote on Armenian Ambassador-designate

Senate delays confirmation vote on Armenian Ambassador-designate

ArmRadio.am
01.07.2006 11:20

In the wake of this past Wednesday’s contentious Senate Foreign
Relations Committee nomination hearing for Ambassador to Armenia
Designate Richard Hoagland, panel members John Kerry (D-MA), Paul
Sarbanes (D-MD), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have
each submitted a series of detailed written questions asking the
nominee to explain the guidance he has received from the State
Department concerning its policy on the Armenian Genocide, reported
the Armenian National Committee (ANCA).

Ambassador-Designate Hoagland’s June 28th appearance before the
Foreign Relations Committee was alongside nominees for the US
ambassadorships to Ireland and Switzerland, who were subsequently
approved by the Committee and then the full Senate on June 29th. In
contrast, the Committee deferred action on confirming the proposed new
Ambassador to Armenia.

"Seven of the eighteen members of the Foreign Relations Committee –
over one third of this influential panel – are already on record
raising serious concerns about confirming a new Ambassador to Yerevan
before receiving a full, open, and official explanation of the
circumstances surrounding the recall of our current ambassador, the
instructions given to our prospective ambassador, and ` more broadly –
the exact nature of our government’s policy on the Armenian Genocide,"
said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "In light of the seriousness of
these issues – and the lack of responsiveness from the Administration
– we were gratified that the Committee has wisely delayed action on
the new Ambassador to Yerevan until these fundamental questions have
been answered."