October 24, 2007 - 13:14 AMT
Rudolph Perina completing diplomatic mission to Armenia October 26
The U.S. Charge d'Affairs in Armenia, Rudolph Perina is completing his diplomatic mission October 26. Spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, Taguhi Jahukian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that Vice Ambassador Joseph Pennington will act as U.S. Charge d'Affairs until appointment of Ambassador.

In September 2006, Ambassador John Evans was prematurely recalled from his post and dismissed because of remarks he made while visiting California in 2005 regarding his open acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide.

Richard Hoagland's nomination as the next Ambassador to Armenia was twice blocked by Senator Robert Menendez over Hoagland's refusal to recognize Armenian massacre in 1915 as Genocide.