AAA EXPECTS CANCELLATION OF ‘ANTI-EVANS’ DOCTRINE

ArmInfo
2009-01-14 15:26:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) is impatiently waiting
for cancellation of ‘Anti-Evans’ Doctrine

According to the message received from AAA, the Armenian Assembly of
America Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said: "As the world
collectively embraces the irreversible trend of Armenian Genocide
affirmation, today’s confirmation hearing of Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton is testament to the fact that there is no turning back.

"President-elect Obama and Senator Clinton have forcefully advocated
for genocide prevention and affirmation and are poised to bring about
a new direction in this key policy area, including the repudiation
of President Bush’s anti-Evans doctrine." The Assembly would like to
congratulate Senator John Kerry for his ascension to the Chairmanship
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Kerry presided over
today’s confirmation hearing of Secretary of State nominee Hillary
Clinton. Senator Clinton fielded a broad range of questions and is
expected to be confirmed by the full Senate prior to the inauguration
of President-elect Barack Obama.

During the question and answer session, Senator Robert Menendez,
a long-time supporter of Armenian issues, noted the importance of
Armenian Genocide affirmation and the need to move forward, stating:
"If we are to say ‘never again,’ part of that is ultimately the
recognition of what has happened so that we can move forward. And I
hope that you will be an advocate of having us get off of where we
have been and move forward to a recognition of that part of history
so that it is universally recognized so that we can move forward in
that respect."

Secretary Designate Clinton responded, "We will be looking very closely
at those and other challenging issues with the eye of moving forward
and being effective in responding to these very legitimate concerns."

"The Armenian Assembly whole-heartedly concurs with Senator Menendez.

Senator Clinton has consistently supported affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide and the Assembly looks forward to working with the
new Administration to reverse the Bush Administration’s Anti-Evans
Doctrine," stated Assembly Board Member Annie Totah.

The Anti-Evans Doctrine was formulated by the Bush Administration to
remove U.S. Ambassador to Armenia , John M. Evans after he acknowledged
the Armenian Genocide in 2005. Ambassador Evans’ statement, however,
was consistent with former President Ronald Reagan’s 1981 affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide, as well as George W. Bush’s acknowledgement
by reference to the International Center for Transitional Justice
2003 analysis on the Armenian Genocide.

First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000, Secretary Designate Clinton
has consistently supported efforts to reaffirm the historical truth
of the Armenian Genocide. In addition to co-sponsoring affirmation
resolutions, Clinton also repeatedly urged President George W. Bush to
reaffirm the Armenian Genocide in his annual April 24th statements. In
2006, for example, she signed a letter to President Bush stating:
"The memory of the Armenian Genocide underscores our responsibility
to speak forcefully about our respect for fundamental human rights
and opposition to mass slaughters. It is in the best interests of
our nation and the entire global community to remember the past and
learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure that they are
never repeated. We respectfully request that you refer to the mass
slaughter of Armenians as genocide in your commemorative statement."

Senator Clinton also supports expanding U.S.-Armenia relations and
"a fair and democratic resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict."

During her historic presidential campaign Secretary Designate Clinton
stated: "I believe the horrible events perpetrated by the Ottoman
Empire against Armenians constitute a clear case of genocide. Our
common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice for human
rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide be recognized
and remembered by the Congress and the President of the United States."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress