One More Senator Called upon Bush to Withdraw Hoagland's Nomination

PanARMENIAN.Net - Senator Charles Schumer sent a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to withdraw the controversial nomination of Richard Hoagland to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).



"We join with Armenians from New York and across the nation in expressing our appreciation to Senator Schumer for his principled stand against the Hoagland nomination," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.



In the January 17th letter Senator Schumer says," "Genocide can not be neatly swept under the carpet. Armenian Americans are justifiably up in arms over the potential nomination of Richard Hoagland as the U.S. Ambassador to their native country. Hoagland's reluctance to classify the Armenian Genocide as the 20th century's first genocide is a travesty, which leaves us to believe that he will march lock and step with the administration's politically motivated stance of denial."



In Schumer's opinion, in order for justice to prevail, for progress to be realized and genuine reconciliation to be possible, there must first be recognition of the facts of history. That must start with a simple, unequivocal declaration that the Ottoman's actions during the period in question were tantamount to genocide.



Thus, Senator Charles Schumer has joined Majority Leader Harry Reid and Robert Menendez, who for the second time blocked Richard Hoagland's nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.