Worthy reward to the deserving diplomat

24.02.2007 14:17

Marlena Hovsepyan
"Radiolur"

On March 4 former US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans will leave for
Los Angeles. A reception in his honor will be organized in one of the
most luxurious restaurants of Beverly Hills: this way the
American-Armenian community wants to thank the diplomat who decided to
be honest and characterize the events at the turn of the century as
genocide contrary to the official stance of his country.

Let us remind that this brave step marked the end of the diplomat’s
career, and the position of the US Ambassador to Armenia is still
vacant. This way the organizer of the event ` the Armenology Center of
South California University ` expresses respect for the dismissed
diplomat, who is currently unemployed and is engaged in writing down
his memories.

`Radiolur’ learned about the upcoming event from the editor-in-chief
and publisher of the `California Courier’ newspaper Harout Sasounian.
`The US Government is very discontent that we are honoring Evans. They
dismissed him and want him to be forgotten. They want us to allow
Hoagland come to Armenia, but we don’t allow,’ he said.

This week the US Senate is on leave and will come back only Monday. Let
us remind that earlier Harout Sasounian had expressed concern that
President George Bush could use this opportunity to appoint Richard
Hoagland as US Ambassador to Armenia, bypassing the Senate. Has Bush
used this opportunity or not? That will be known on Monday. `According
to our data, the White House and the Department of State are consulting
what to do, and they have not come to any conclusion yet. If they don’t
declare on Monday they have appointed Hoagland, the question will be
closed,’ said Harout Sasounian.