MARIE YOVANOVITCH NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Au g 4, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. At the end of last week the
U.S. Senate approved the candidacy of Marie Yovanovitch for the
post of U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Radio Liberty reported, citing
Associated Press. The Bush administration nominated M. Yovanovitch
for this post in March.

A hearing to confirm her candidacy was held at the U.S. Senate Foreign
Relations Committee on June 19. In response to questions on the 1915
events asked by a number of senators, including Democratic presidential
candidate Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Robert Menendez, M. Yovanovitch
avoided using the word "Armenian Genocide". Nevertherless, last week
the Committee confirmed her candidacy.

The duties of U.S. ambassador to Armenia were carried out by charges
d’affaires since the U.S. Ambassador John Evans was recalled in
2006. In the opinion of Armenian Americans and a number of American
political figures, J. Evans was relieved of his post for publicly
recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
From: Baghdasarian