ASSEMBLY STATEMENT REGARDING THE NOMINATION OF AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOAGLAND

ArmRadio.am
18.01.2007 10:24

It is vitally important that the United States send an ambassador to
Armenia. The close bilateral relations of the two countries depend on
the maintenance of contact and consultation at the highest diplomatic
levels. Armenia and the United States share important security,
economic, and political objectives in the region. These relations
need to grow and improve. That cannot happen without the presence of
an US ambassador in Armenia.

Democracy in Armenia is still a work in progress. With elections
scheduled this year, the U.S. Ambassador can play an important role
in strengthening Armenia’s democratic process and ensuring free and
fair elections.

While no US Ambassador has affirmed the Armenian Genocide during
Senate confirmation hearings, the Armenian-American community rightly
expects that any US ambassadorial nominee to Armenia, or anyone in
the US diplomatic service, properly understands and refers to the
Armenian Genocide. The Armenian Assembly of America salutes former
Ambassador John Evans for speaking the truth and for his efforts in
working to strengthen Armenia’s democratic institutions.

The withdrawal by the American Foreign Service Association of the
Christian A. Herter Award for "Constructive Dissent" with which it
initially honored Ambassador Evans was a cowardly act that was not
consistent with respect for human rights and good governance.

The proper recognition and international affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide is a matter of high priority for the Armenian
people worldwide. Senator Robert Menendez who strongly supports US
affirmation of the Armenian Genocide has sent a clear message to the
Administration about his position. However, US-Armenia relations do
not hinge on this issue alone. The Armenian government has given its
consent with respect to President Bush’s choice of Richard Hoagland
to serve as Ambassador to Armenia, and in a recent Wall Street Journal
article, a senior Armenian government official indicated that Armenia
should set aside the issue of recognition as a precondition in order
to encourage an opening in diplomatic relations between Armenia and
Turkey. The President of Armenia and its Foreign Minister have made
the same point.

Unlike Turkey, Administration officials have made it clear that the
United States does not deny the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian
Assembly does not believe that Richard Hoagland is a genocide
denier. However, it is also evident that the Bush Administration,
while relying on the dictionary definition of the Armenian Genocide
in its annual commemorative statements, remains unwilling to properly
label the crimes as genocide.

Because of this fundamental policy disagreement with the
Administration, the Armenian Assembly believes that forceful and
consistent advocacy by the Armenian-American community toward shaping
a US policy that properly recognizes and characterizes the Armenian
Genocide is the only right strategy in the long run. That is what
the Assembly has been doing all along, and that is what the Assembly
will continue doing when later this month the Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues reintroduces legislation which calls upon the
President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning issues
related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide documented
in the United States record relating to the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Assembly understands that the Armenian-American community
is not of one mind on this matter, but some of the opposition is
based on inappropriate grounds. The Assembly believes that there
should be an American ambassador in Yerevan, and there should be
clear and positive US affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Until
then ambassadors will articulate the policies of the President since
they serve at his pleasure. The historical fact that it was genocide
will remain; however, US Foreign Service professionals bound to the
policies of their government will only be able to express it as such
once US policy affirms this truth. The Armenian Assembly calls upon
Congress and the President to stand up for the historical truth,
as Ambassador Evans did, and boldly recognize the crimes committed
in 1915 as genocide.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress