Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
SERJ TANKIAN WELCOMES HOAGLAND "HOLD"
— System of a Down Vocalist Praises
New Jersey Senator’s Principled Stand
"[Bob Menendez’s] principled stand represents a powerful
contribution to the worldwide effort to end the denial
of justice for this crime, and break forever the
worldwide cycle of genocide." — Serj Tankian
WASHINGTON, DC – Serj Tankian, lead singer for the Grammy Award-
winning band System of a Down, has welcomed the "hold" placed by
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on the confirmation of Richard
Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia until the Bush
Administration ends its denial of the Armenian Genocide.
"I respect U.S. Senator Bob Menendez’s decision to block the
President’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia until the Bush
Administration ends its cover-up of the Armenian Genocide," said
Serj Tankian. "His principled stand represents a powerful
contribution to the worldwide effort to end the denial of justice
for this crime, and break forever the worldwide cycle of genocide."
This April, Tankian was joined by fellow System member John
Dolmayan in a three-day Armenian Genocide recognition advocacy tour
of Washington, DC, featuring meetings with Members of Congress, an
anti-denial rally outside the Turkish Embassy, and a Capitol Hill
screening of the new Genocide documentary "Screamers." For a full
review of the tour, visit:
leases.php?prid=945
In announcing his decision last month to block the Hoagland
nomination, Sen. Menendez stressed that, "as a leader and defender
of democracy, it is our nation’s responsibility to speak out
against injustice and support equality and human rights. But if
the Bush Administration continues to refuse to acknowledge the
atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, then there is certainly cause
for great alarm, which is why I am placing a hold on this nominee."
He added that, "I will continue to work with my colleagues in the
United States Senate to make strides toward ensuring that all
people, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity, receive
protection from policies of discrimination and hate that lead to
genocide."
On September 7th, after more than forty minutes of intense debate,
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Ambassador-
Designate Hoagland’s nomination. Following the vote, the ANCA
announced that it would continue to urge Senators to place a hold
on the Hoagland nomination. On two previous occasions, June 28th
and August 1st, the panel delayed its consideration of the
nomination due to bipartisan concerns over a series of
controversies. Among these points of contention were the nominee’s
written responses to Senator Boxer’s inquiry, in which he
questioned the genocidal intent of the Ottoman Turkish government.
Also of concern to members of the panel was the State Department’s
firing of the current U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshal
Evans. His early recall from Yerevan is widely seen as retribution
for his public statements, in February of 2005, calling for an end
to "word games" by the U.S. government in avoiding the proper
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Despite dozens of
Congressional inquiries, the Administration has yet to explain its
reasons for firing Amb. Evans or to reveal the communications it
received from the Turkish government on this matter.
To date, more than half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
including Senators George Allen (R-VA), Joseph Biden (D-DE),
Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman,
Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Russell Feingold (D-WI), John Kerry (D-
MA), Barack Obama (D-IL) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), have contacted
Secretary Rice or questioned Ambassador-designate Hoagland directly
regarding his nomination or the firing of Ambassador Evans.
Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Jack Reed
(D-RI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and most recently John Ensign (R-NV),
along with over sixty Members of the U.S. House have also expressed
serious concerns to the State Department on this matter.
In a September 1st letter, the ANCA urged Members of the Committee
to block the Hoagland nomination until:
1) Ambassador-designate Hoagland provides a responsible and
unambiguous public statement affirming that he does not question
the clear genocidal intent of the Ottoman Turkish government
against its Armenian population.
2) The State Department provides a full, honest, and public
explanation regarding the reasons for the controversial firing of
the current Ambassador, John Marshall Evans.
3) The Administration explains any and all communications,
directly or indirectly, between the U.S. government and the Turkish
government concerning Ambassador Evans.
Since February of this year, the ANCA has led nationwide efforts to
demand answers concerning the recall of Ambassador Evans and,
later, to educate Senators about the adverse impact of sending an
envoy to Armenia that has called into question the genocidal
character of Ottoman Turkey’s systematic destruction of its
Armenian population.
#####