U.S. Congressmen against Recall of Ambassador Evans from Armenia
Over 60 Members of Congress, led by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking for clarification on reports of U.S. Ambassador to Armenian John Evans' recall over his forthright remarks about the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Amb. Evans will be relieved of his duties as soon as Hoagland's Senate confirmation process is completed. The 60 Members of Congress expressed special concern about the destructive precedent of recalling a U.S. diplomat for speaking truthfully on matters of historical record. They wrote that, "we must not allow the perception to linger that he [Amb. Evans] is being required to vacate his position early for accurately labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide." The Representatives, noting President Ronald Reagan's references to the Armenian Genocide, reminded Secretary Rice that Amb. Evans "did nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by those before him."
"Ambassador Evans has been recalled for doing nothing more than honoring the forsaken pledge of his president," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We want to thank Congressman Markey and his 59 colleagues for calling for a clarification and rejecting the Armenian Genocide 'gag-rule' imposed by the Turkish government and, sadly, enforced by our own State Department." "Armenian Americans truly regret that the Administration lacks the courage to speak honestly about its reasons for firing Ambassador Evans," added Hamparian. "We call upon the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - the Congressional panel constitutionally charged with oversight of diplomatic appointments - to hold a hearing thoroughly examining the reasons behind this firing, the role of the Turkish government, and the broader implications for the future of the Foreign Service that a senior American diplomat's career has been ended simply for speaking the truth."
Amb. Evans will be relieved of his duties as soon as Hoagland's Senate confirmation process is completed. The 60 Members of Congress expressed special concern about the destructive precedent of recalling a U.S. diplomat for speaking truthfully on matters of historical record. They wrote that, "we must not allow the perception to linger that he [Amb. Evans] is being required to vacate his position early for accurately labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide." The Representatives, noting President Ronald Reagan's references to the Armenian Genocide, reminded Secretary Rice that Amb. Evans "did nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by those before him."
"Ambassador Evans has been recalled for doing nothing more than honoring the forsaken pledge of his president," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We want to thank Congressman Markey and his 59 colleagues for calling for a clarification and rejecting the Armenian Genocide 'gag-rule' imposed by the Turkish government and, sadly, enforced by our own State Department." "Armenian Americans truly regret that the Administration lacks the courage to speak honestly about its reasons for firing Ambassador Evans," added Hamparian. "We call upon the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - the Congressional panel constitutionally charged with oversight of diplomatic appointments - to hold a hearing thoroughly examining the reasons behind this firing, the role of the Turkish government, and the broader implications for the future of the Foreign Service that a senior American diplomat's career has been ended simply for speaking the truth."
