RA Foreign Minister hopes for soonest arrival of U.S. Ambassador in ArmeniaJuly 15, 2008 - 15:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed appointment of new U.S. Ambassador to Armenia."I hope for soonest arrival of the new Ambassador, what will encourage development of the Armenian-U.S. relations," Minister Nalbandian said, the RA MFA press office said. On March 28, 2008, Pres. Bush nominated Marie L. Yovanovitch to serve as America's next Ambassador to Armenia. U.S. Senate confirmation hearings for the new ambassador-elect were postponed because the State Department has delayed responding to Senators' questions about her position on Armenian Genocide recognition. "We remain troubled by Ambassador Yovanovitch's evasive answers, her outright non-responses, and her refusal, in her replies to Senator Obama and other Senators, to offer anything approaching a reasonable or factually supportable explanation of the reasons behind Administration's misguided policy on the Armenian Genocide," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. Bush's previous nominee as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Hoagland, was subject to two legislative holds by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and was ultimately withdrawn by the Administration, following the nominee's statements denying the Armenian Genocide. The position of Ambassador to Armenia has been unfilled since Ambassador John Evans was recalled two years ago by the Bush Administration for recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. |