Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
March 28, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
PRESIDENT BUSH TO NOMINATE NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
WASHINGTON, DC – President George Bush today announced plans to
nominate career diplomat, Marie L. Yovanovitch as U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
According to a personnel announcement posted on the White House
website, the President’s candidate "currently serves as Ambassador
to the Kyrgyz Republic. Prior to this, she served as Senior Advisor
to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the Department of
State. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Chief of Mission
in Kyiv. Ms. Yovanovitch received her bachelor’s degree from
Princeton University and her master’s degree from the National War
College."
releases/2008/03/20080328-6.html
The Associated Press (AP) today quoted ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian as saying: "It’s important to have an ambassador in
Yerevan, but it’s also important to have the right ambassador.
Being able to speak truthfully about what we all acknowledge is the
historical record, is an important part of a U.S. ambassador’s
ability to effectively represent our nation’s values and interests
in Yerevan."
Prior to official appointment, Ms. Yovanovitch will appear before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for confirmation hearings,
followed by confirmation vote by the panel and then the full
Senate.
The President’s previous nominee, Dick Hoagland, who was proposed
twice for consideration by the Senate, faced bipartisan
Congressional opposition and two separate "holds" by Senator Bob
Menendez over his denial of the Armenian Genocide, before,
ultimately, being withdrawn from consideration by the White House.
The last U.S. Ambassador to serve in Armenia, John Marshall Evans,
was fired for speaking truthfully in public about the Armenian
Genocide, sparking widespread Congressional protests and outrage in
the Armenian American community.
The text of today’s AP story on this issue is provided below.
#####
Bush nominates envoy to Armenia, after block of earlier choice
By DESMOND BUTLER, Associated Press Writer
03-28-2008 17:15
WASHINGTON (AP) _ President George W. Bush has nominated a career
diplomat to be U.S. ambassador to Armenia after the last nominee
was blocked by Democrats because of a refusal to call the World War
I-era killings of Armenians a genocide.
Bush announced on Friday the nomination of Marie Yovanovitch, who
is currently ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic.
In August, the White House withdrew its nomination of another
career diplomat, Richard Hoagland, after Democratic Sen. Robert
Menendez held up confirmation hearings.
Menendez could not be reached Friday and his staff did not
immediately comment on the new nomination.
Hoagland’s predecessor, John Evans, reportedly had his tour of duty
in Armenia cut short by the administration because, in a social
setting, he referred to the killings as genocide.
The administration has warned that even a congressional debate on
the genocide question could damage relations with Turkey, a
moderate Muslim nation that is a NATO member and an important
strategic ally.
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely
viewed by genocide scholars as the first genocide of the 20th
century. Turkey however denies that the deaths constituted
genocide, saying the toll has been inflated, and that those killed
were victims of civil war and unrest.
Armenian-American groups had sought to prevent Hoagland’s
nomination unless he made a clear statement affirming the genocide.
One group said Friday, they expect that lawmakers will raise the
issue with Yovanovitch.
"It’s important to have an ambassador in Yerevan, but it’s also
important to have the right ambassador," said Aram Hamparian,
executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.
"Being able to speak truthfully about what we all acknowledge is
the historical record, is an important part of a U.S. ambassador’s
ability to effectively represent our nation’s values and interests
in Yerevan."
It is not clear when the Senate will hold hearings on the
nomination.
-nominates-envoy-to-armenia-after/n200803281716099 90020?ecid=RSS0001