ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA HINTS THAT IT IS NOT AGAINST RICHARD HOAGLAND AS US AMBASSAFOR TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jan 18 2007

WASHINGTON, JANUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA) on January 18 issued a statement, in which
it hints in an indirect way that it is not against Richard Hoagland’s
appointment as the US ambassador to Armenia.

First, in the opinion of the AAA, the US should have an ambassador in
Yerevan, as the Armenian-US relations are not limited to the issue of
the Genocide, the two countries have important common problems and it
is necessary to have a US ambassador in Yerevan for further development
of relations. The AAA notes that among important activities of the
ambassador is his possible contribution to free and fair elections
to be held in Armenia.

Second, the Armenian government gave consent for appointment of Richard
Hoagland, supporting President Bush’s choice. The statement mentions
"the statement of a high-ranking official of the Armenian government"
(published in the Wall Street Journal) that the Genocide problem
should not be a precondition for normalizing the Armenian-Turkish
relations (the article of the defence minister Serge Sargsian is
obviously meant).

Thirdly, noting that until now no US ambassador has officially
recognized the Armenian Genocide (because US presidents were against
it), the AAA adds: "The Assembly does not think that Richard Hoagland
is a denier of the Genocide."

Nevertheless, the AAA agian notes that it considers official
recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a necessity. It calls on the
US Congress and President to speak in favor of the historic reality
and to recognize the crimes of 1915.