ABSENCE OF AMBASSADOR IN ARMENIA HAS NEGATIVE IMPACT ON RA-U.S. RELATIONS
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.06.2007 16:56 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Armenia’s foreign policy should be decided in
Yerevan but not in California," Jane’s Intelligence Center expert
Richard Giragosian told a news conference in Yerevan.
"Absence of Ambassador in Armenia has a negative impact on
RA-U.S. relations. Neither the Diaspora nor Armenian NGOs appoint the
U.S. Ambassador. It’s the prerogative of the U.S. Senate. The sooner
it happens the better," he said.
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has twice blocked Richard
Hoagland’s designation for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia. Senator Robert
Menendez exercised his right of veto. "A person who denies the Armenian
Genocide cannot defend the U.S. interests in Armenia," he said.
Hoagland told the Committee that he recognizes the events of 1915
but doesn’t call them genocide.
Earlier, the RA government gave consent to Hoagland’s nomination.