US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA TO RECEIVE 2009 DIPLOMACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD FROM US SECRETARY OF STATE

ArmInfo
2009-12-14 14:18:00

ArmInfo. The U.S. Embassy to the Republic of Armenia is pleased to
announce Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recognition of Ambassador
Marie L. Yovanovitch as the recipient of the 2009 "Diplomacy for
Human Rights Award."

As US Embassy in Armenia told ArmInfo, the annual "Diplomacy for
Human Rights Award" recognizes a U.S. Ambassador who has demonstrated
extraordinary commitment to defending human rights and advancing
democratic principles of government in his or her host country.

Secretary Clinton singled out Ambassador Yovanovitch and her embassy
team for their advocacy of due process and transparent investigations
of those arrested after the contentious February 2008 elections,
and for the Ambassador’s efforts to improve the electoral process in
Armenia, while maintaining a positive relationship with the Armenian
Government.

This award has been announced as part of the U.S. government’s efforts
to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10. The award will
be presented early next year.

In view of this, the American diplomat said: "While I am honored
to be selected for this award, this award really honors human
rights reformers in Armenia, whether they are in government, civil
society, or the media. As Secretary Clinton stated, ‘human rights and
fundamental freedoms : are the birthright of every human being. They
are the basis of human dignity, and they underpin international peace
and progress.’ As long as I have been a diplomat, I have believed in
these principles, and worked to promote them wherever I have served. I
believe Armenia has made much progress in 18 years, but that there
is still much more work to do on human rights. I want to help with
that process, and I want to do it constructively".

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress