Senator Feingold adds voice to growing congressional calls for answers on
Ambassador Evans firing

ArmRadio.am
12.07.2006 11:55

Concerns continued to grow this week regarding the circumstances
surrounding the firing of US Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall
Evans, as Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) becomes the ninth member
of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee to call for
clarification of the State Department policy on the Armenian Genocide,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

In a written statement submitted as part of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee hearing on Ambassador Designate to Armenia Richard
Hoagland, Senator Feingold noted that, "I want to express my deep
concern about the Administration’s reluctance to acknowledge the acts
of genocide that were committed against the Armenians almost a century
ago. The Administration’s continued failure to recognize these tragic
events is troubling to me and to those who share my belief that we
should speak honestly about, and insist on accountability for, past
crimes against humanity and genocide."

Sen. Feingold’s concerns are shared by half of the influential Senate
Foreign Relations Committee members – including Senators George Allen
(R-VA), Ranking Democrat Joe Biden (D-DE), Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT),
John Kerry (D-MA) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) – who must first approve
Ambassador Evans’ replacement prior to a full Senate confirmation. The
Senate Foreign Relations Committee delayed action on Ambassador
Designate Hoagland, while quickly voting for the incoming Ambassadors
to Switzerland and Ireland, who were before the Committee the same
day as Ambassador Designate Hoagland.