Senate Foreign Relations Committee to hold confirmation hearing for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nomineeJune 18, 2008 - 15:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - On Thursday, June 19th, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is slated to hold a confirmation hearing for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Marie Yovanovitch. On March 28, 2008, Pres. Bush nominated Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch to serve as America's next Ambassador to Armenia. The ANCA has spoken to Committee members about the value of carefully questioning Amb. Yovanovitch on the issues she will face as the U.S. envoy in Yerevan, among them the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey and Azerbaijan's ongoing blockades of Armenia, and the need for a balanced U.S. role in helping forge a democratic and peaceful resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. These efforts have been supported by extensive on-line outreach and a national postcard campaign to key Senate Foreign Relations Committee members. President 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 Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and was ultimately withdrawn by the Administration, following the nominee's statements denying the Armenian Genocide.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 last U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, was fired by President Bush for speaking honestly about the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA led the Armenian American community campaign opposing Hoagland's nomination, stating that a genocide denier could not serve as a credible and effective U.S. spokesperson in Armenia. 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 | EU, EAEU are incompatible, Russia tells Armenia The arrival of extra-regional players in Armenia “will have consequences,” Russian Deputy PM Alexei Overchuk has said. Armenia top European Youth Team Chess Championships after Round 4 The Armenian national team top the standings at the European Youth Team Chess Championships 2024 on the Greek island of Rhodes. GAIFF: Tarsem Singh to preside over Regional Competition jury Tarsem Singh is perhaps best known to Armenian audiences as the author behind Lady Gaga’s 911 music video, inspired by the aesthetics of Sergei Parajanov. ICRC reps visit Armenians held in Azerbaijan The staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross have visited Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians currently being held in Azerbaijan. |