Richard Mills confirmed as U.S. envoy to ArmeniaDecember 17, 2014 - 14:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Senate confirmed the candidacy of Richard Mills for an ambassador to Armenia, American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) said in a Twitter post. The acting envoy John Heffern also tweeted to congratulate his successor on the appointment. Similar to each of his predecessors since former Ambassador John Evans’ historic 2006 stand in support of honest U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Mills fell short, in his testimony, of properly characterizing the intentional and systematic murder of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish authorities as Genocide. He did, however, note that “the United States and the world will stand in solidarity with the Armenian people next year to mark the centenary of one of the 20th century’s worst atrocities. Expressing support for the Turkey-Armenia Protocols, Mills admitted that the process had “stalled,” citing Turkey’s refusal to ratify the document. On the eve of Genocide centennial, Mills placed the onus on Turkey to “engage with Armenia to achieve a full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts so that both nations can begin to forge a relationship that is peaceful, productive, and prosperous.” On the economic front, Mills decried Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union but argued for greater U.S. – Armenia efforts to expand investment. Related links: Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |