WILL THE WHITE HOUSE USE THE SENATE VACATION TO APPOINT RICHARD HOAGLAND?
ArmRadio.am
04.05.2007 14:55
The opportunity for the US Administration to have Richard Hoagland
appointed US Ambassador to Armenia is to wait for the vacation of
the Congress, a source in the Democratic Party told ArmInfo.
The source reminded that Richard Hoagland is an experienced diplomat
and before his nomination as US Ambassador to Armenia he served as
an Ambassador to Tajikistan. Hoagland’s appointment was blocked,
since the Congressmen did not receive proper answers to a number
of questions about the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. "A
number of US Congressmen properly characterize the mass killing of
Armenians between 1915-1917 as genocide. Because of many reasons
the State Department neither refutes, nor confirms that these brutal
actions against Armenians were genocide," the Senate source noted. He
added that representatives of the Armenian Diaspora have expressed
dissatisfaction with answers to some of the questions about the
Armenian Genocide Richard Hoagland gave in the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. Congressmen came to the conclusion that Richard Hoagland
is not a proper candidate to represent the United States in Armenia,
since he does not recognize the Armenian Genocide. "We think that US
policy on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is incorrect.
Nevertheless, we understand that Ambassador Hoagland serves the US
Government and therefore, cannot deviate from the state policy. Many
Senators of the Foreign Relations Committee are discontent with the
US policy," the source mentions.
"Currently the process is frozen, and I don’t think the situation tends
to change. The only opportunity for the White house Administration is
to wait for the vacation of the Congress, when it can use the chance
to appoint Richard Hoagland to the position of the US Ambassador to
Armenia. Afterwards, Richard Hoagland will serve as Ambassador for
a short time before his full confirmation in the Senate," the source
noted. He added hat such procedure of appointment should take place
in a short period of time. "It’s not characteristic of high-rank
officials of the Foreign Department to make appointments during the
Congress leave. I don’t think the White House will do that this time.
However, this is the only chance to have Richard Hoagland appointed,
since otherwise the Administration will have to nominate another
candidacy," the US Senate source noted.