US SENATE HEARS CANDIDACY FOR US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 17:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ While Members of Congress and the Armenian community
demand a full explanation for the premature replacement of Ambassador
to Armenia John M.
Evans, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the
Administration’s nominee, Richard E. Hoagland, reports the Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA). Senator George Allen (R-VA), who chaired
the proceedings, noted that there have been serious concerns that Evans
was forced to prematurely end his service as a result of those public
declarations. "I don’t know this to be true," Allen said, referring
to the circumstances surrounding Evans’ departure. "[I] will say that
many of my colleagues and I refer to the tragic events of 1915 as
genocide and have strongly encouraged the President to do so as well."
Allen asked Hoagland a series of questions on the issue of the
Armenian Genocide beginning with the Administration’s policy towards
referring to the events of 1915. Hoagland responded that no one in
the Administration has ever denied the tragic events that befell
the Armenians. He said his visit to the Genocide Museum and Memorial
in Yerevan was a very sobering and disturbing experience, but added
that the Administration’s position is clear and that, if confirmed, he
would uphold U.S. policy. Allen next asked him if he received specific
instructions on how to address the Armenian Genocide. Hoagland answered
that he hadn’t, reiterating that "whatever we say must be consistent
with the Administration and its policy."
Following Allen, Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) began his line of
questioning. The Senator said he understood the nominee was in
a difficult position, recognizing that Hoagland "can’t utter the
word genocide." He expressed hope that the U.S. would reaffirm the
genocide, saying that "you can’t look to the future if you deny
the past." Switching topics, Coleman questioned Hoagland over the
Turkish blockade against Armenia, asking him how he plans to address
this issue. Hoagland responded that he would support talks between
the countries, noting that a peaceful resolution to the NK conflict
was paramount.
In his statement, Hoagland stressed the importance of strengthening
U.S.-Armenia ties and said that if confirmed, he would work to advance
democratic and social reforms.