ANCA OPPOSES PRESIDENT’S RE-NOMINATION OF HOAGLAND
ArmRadio.am
11.01.2007 10:19
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) voiced its opposition
to President Bush’s re-nomination of Richard Hoagland – a controversial
diplomat whose denial of the Armenian Genocide generated widespread
Congressional and Armenian American community opposition culminating
in a Senatorial "hold" of his previous nomination in the recently
concluded 109th Congress.
In a letter circulated on Capitol Hill, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian
called on US Senators to prevent Hoagland’s approval – stressing that,
" A genocide denier must not – and should never – represent America
in Armenia, a nation that rose from the ashes of genocide."
The Hoagland nomination faced bipartisan opposition in the 109th
Congress – and was ultimately blocked by a parliamentary "hold" placed
by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – after he disqualified himself as
an acceptable choice by denying the Armenian Genocide. In written
statements, offered in response to questions posed to him during
his confirmation hearing, he went far beyond the bounds of the
Administration’s already deeply flawed policy, actually calling into
question the Armenian Genocide as a historical fact.
A recent poll of Armenian Americans found that 97% opposed the
Hoagland nomination. Ninety-four percent of the respondents said
that they "strongly agreed" with the Senate’s opposition to his
nomination. An additional 3% noted that they "somewhat agreed" with
this opposition. One percent reported that they "somewhat disagreed"
with opposing Hoagland, and 2% indicated that they "strongly disagreed"
with the opposition to his confirmation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
