Armenian National Committee of America
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Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
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PRESS RELEASE
July 27, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

SEN. REED PRESSES SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
ANSWERS ON EVANS FIRING; HOAGLAND NOMINATION

— Requests Copies of the State Department’s
"Background Papers" on the Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) has indicated that he is
not prepared to support the nomination of Richard Hoagland as U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia until he receives meaningful responses to a
series of questions – including several specific inquiries
concerning the firing of the current Ambassador John Evans,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a July 26th letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
Senator Reed explained that he is "concerned that Ambassador Evans
is being forced to resign prematurely." He stressed that he is
"particularly troubled" by reports that he is being recalled
because he properly characterized the Armenian Genocide as a
genocide. "Had the term genocide been coined in the early 1900s,
it would have been used to accurately describe the situation,"
added the senior Senator from Rhode Island.

In closing, Senator Reed asserted that he would not be prepared to
support the nomination of a new ambassador to Armenia until he
understands the answers to the following questions:

1) Why is Ambassador Evans being replaced a year before the
end of the customary three-year ambassador term? If he
resigned, why would the State Department accept the
resignation of a truly dedicated individual who is highly
respected by the Armenian community?

2) Has the President or State Department directed, either
through written or oral means, Executive Branch personnel
not to use the word ‘genocide’ when referring to the
atrocities waged against the Armenian people by the Ottoman
Empire? What is the justification for such a policy?

3) If it is the policy of the United States to not
characterize the systematic killing of over 1.5 million
Armenians as genocide, please elaborate on why these events
do not meet the definitions of the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

4) During Ambassador Richard Hoagland’s confirmation hearing
before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, regarding
the Armenian genocide he stated "I simply have studied the
president’s policy. I’ve studied the background papers on
the policy, and my responsibility is to support the
President." What do the background papers say regarding
the Armenian Genocide? I respectfully request a copy of
these background papers so I can better understand the
President’s policy. If that is not possible, I would like
to know why.

5) A recent press report outlined Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State Matthew Bryza as saying the following regarding
Ambassador Evans, "Ambassadors serve the President and
should follow his policy. President George Bush’s policy
on the mass killings of Armenians is very clear, as he
points out in his annual addresses. If someone disagrees
with it, they are at liberty to make their own decisions,
but these should not be divulged. Certainly, our job is
also to advise him, but we must support his policy when it
comes to public statements." This reporting indicates that
Ambassador Evans was asked to resign based on this prior
statements regarding the Armenian genocide. If this is not
the case, would you explain the statement by Mr. Bryza and
its relation to Ambassador Evans?"

Sen. Reed is the latest Member of Congress to express concern about
the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Amb. Evans and the
State Department’s policy on the Armenian Genocide. To date, half
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Senators
George Allen (R-VA), Ranking Member Joseph Biden (D-DE), Barbara
Boxer (D-CA), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman (R-MN),
Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Russell Feingold (D-WI),John Kerry (D-MA)
and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), have already contacted Secretary Rice or
questioned Ambassador Designate Hoagland directly regarding these
issues. Over sixty members of the House have also expressed
concerns to the State Department, with responses side-stepping the
core issues.

On July 18th, the ANCA issued a statement opposing the Hoagland
nomination, following several responses to Senate inquiries where
the Ambassador Designate denied the Armenian Genocide.