Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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E-mail: anca@anca.org
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PRESS RELEASE
July 26, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
REP. PALLONE URGES SENATE
TO BLOCK HOAGLAND NOMINATION
— Describes Administration’s Denial that it Communicated with
the Turkish Government on the Evans Issue as "Not Credible"
WASHINGTON, DC – In a July 25th speech on the House floor,
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
called on the U.S. Senate to block the nomination of Richard
Hoagland to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In his remarks, the New Jersey legislator outlined the reasons for
his opposition, notably Ambassador-designate Hoagland’s denial of
the Armenian Genocide and his evasiveness and lack of
responsiveness to Senate inquiries. He also highlighted the
failure of the Administration to respond honestly to communications
it held with the Turkish government concerning the firing of
current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans over his February
2005 remarks affirming the Armenian Genocide.
Congressman Pallone closed his speech by noting his "fear that
sending an ambassador to Yerevan who denies the Armenian genocide
would represent a tragic escalation in the Bush administration’s
ignorance and support in Turkey’s campaign of genocide denial. The
State Department has reported to Senate offices that they expect
Ambassador Designate Hoagland to be confirmed during a business
meeting early next week. I would urge the Senate to block his
nomination until this administration recognizes the Armenian
genocide."
The full text of Congressman Pallone’s speech is provided below.
#####
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PAGE H5818
July 25, 2006
AMBASSADOR NOMINEE RICHARD HOAGLAND
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to express my
concerns with the nomination of Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia . Many questions remain regarding U.S. policy on the
Armenian genocide, and they remain unanswered. Key Senate Foreign
Relations Committee members continue to have serious misgivings
about the nomination.
Two weeks ago, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considered
Mr. Hoagland’s nomination. During the hearing, Mr. Hoagland failed
to adequately respond to the questions asked by the Senators,
including not clarifying the U.S.’s policy in the denial of the
Armenian genocide. In many instances, he did not respond to
specific Senate inquires. He diverted his answers by responding
with what seemed like prepared talking points, and went to great
lengths to avoid using the term genocide.
Additionally, in response to a written inquiry from Senator John
Kerry concerning Turkey’s criminal prosecution of journalists for
writing about the Armenian genocide, Mr. Hoagland referred to these
writings as allegations.
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. has historically taken a leadership role in
preventing genocide and human rights violations, but the Bush
administration continues to play word games by not calling evil by
its proper name. Instead, they refer to the mass killings of 1.5
million Armenians as tragic events. This term cannot be substituted
for genocide. The two words are simply not synonymous.
Mr. Speaker, there are historical documents that cannot be refuted,
yet somehow the Administration continues to ignore the truth in
fear of offending another government.
The Bush administration has not offered a meaningful explanation of
its reasons for firing the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John
Evans. In fact, the State Department’s assertion that it did not
receive any communications from the Turkish Government concerning
Ambassador Evans’ February 2005 affirmation of the Armenian
genocide is simply not credible.
Official Department of Justice filings by the Turkish Government’s
registered foreign agent, the Livingston Group, document that there
are at least four different occasions of communications with State
Department officials following Ambassador Evans’ remarks affirming
the Armenian genocide. Still, the State Department refutes these
claims.
Mr. Speaker, this lack of honesty has been an all too common
practice of the Bush administration. The American people and this
Congress deserve a full and truthful account of the role of the
Turkish Government in denying the Armenian genocide. Our Nation’s
response to genocide should not be denigrated to a level acceptable
to the Turkish Government. It is about time the Bush administration
started dictating a policy for Americans and not for a foreign
government.
Mr. Speaker, I fear that sending an ambassador to Yerevan who
denies the Armenian genocide would represent a tragic escalation in
the Bush administration’s ignorance and support in Turkey’s
campaign of genocide denial. The State Department has reported to
Senate offices that they expect Ambassador Designate Hoagland to be
confirmed during a business meeting early next week. I would urge
the Senate to block his nomination until this administration
recognizes the Armenian genocide.