ARMENIANS IN US PRAISE CIA CHIEF

Hurriyet
Jan 14 2009
Turkey

WASHINGTON – The choice of a leading public figure as Obama’s nominee
to head the Central Intelligence Agency has been praised by a major
U.S. Armenian group.

The President-elect’s choice, Leon Panetta, was a strong backer of
the move by the U.S. congress to recognize the 1915 incidents as
"genocide."

"During his years in Congress, Leon Panetta repeatedly expressed
his support for affirmation of the Armenian genocide," said Bryan
Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America,
or AAA, according to a statement released by the group late Monday.

"Coupled with President-elect Obama’s decision to nominate Senator
Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, who is on record in support of
U.S. affirmation of the Armenian genocide, this nomination represents
another step in restoring U.S. credibility in fighting genocide,"
Ardouny said.

Panetta represented a California congressional district from 1977 to
1993. He later became former president Bill Clinton’s White House chief
of staff. Many U.S. Armenians live in California, and most lawmakers
from this state strongly support Armenian causes. "Panetta… made
several floor statements commemorating the anniversary of the Armenian
genocide," the AAA said. He needs to be confirmed by the Senate.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress