SENATORS MENENDEZ AND REID CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL OF HOAGLAND NOMINATION

ArmRadio.am
06.12.2006 16:28

Citing the opposition of the Armenian American community and the
growing controversy within Congress surrounding the nomination of
Dick Hoagland to serve as US Ambassador to Armenia, incoming Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez
(D-NJ) called on President George W. Bush to withdraw this nomination
and propose a new candidate to serve in this important diplomatic post,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Senators Menendez and Reid, citing the growing Hoagland controversy,
recommended, in a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, that
the best way to move this process forward would be for "the President
to withdraw his nomination of Richard Hoagland as US Ambassador to
Armenia and to propose a new candidate to serve in this important
position." Noting the broad-based opposition within Congress, the
extensive media coverage this issue has received, and the strong stand
of the Armenian American community against this nomination, the two
Senators noted that, "It would serve neither our national interests
nor the US-Armenia relationship to expect Ambassador-designate Hoagland
to carry out his duties under these highly contentious and profoundly
troubling circumstances."

"Armenian Americans welcome the principled stand taken today by
Senators Menendez and Reid in defense of our nation’s fundamental
commitment to recognizing, preventing and punishing genocide," said
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "We deeply appreciate their leadership
and value their understanding of the simple truth that a denier of
the Armenian Genocide cannot effectively promote US interests or
American values in Armenia – a country that rose from the ashes of
Turkey’s brutal campaign of extermination and exile."

In letters sent on November 8th, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian called
on US Senators to urge the President to "withdraw the deeply flawed
and increasingly controversial nomination of Dick Hoagland as US
Ambassador to Armenia."

Hachikian stressed that: "Very simply, a genocide denier cannot
effectively promote US interests or American values in Armenia – a
country that rose from the ashes of Turkey’s genocidal campaign." He
added that, "confirming an Ambassador to Armenia who denies the
Armenian Genocide would dramatically undermine US diplomacy in
Armenia and mark a major retreat from our nation’s noble commitment
to genocide prevention."

In announcing his decision to block the Hoagland nomination on
September 12, 2006, Senator Menendez (D-NJ) highlighted the principled
stand taken by former US Ambassador John Evans, who, by all accounts,
was fired for speaking truthfully about the Armenian Genocide. The
New Jersey legislator stated that he has "great concerns that
Mr. Hoagland’s confirmation would be a step backward."