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07/27/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1. Rep. Pallone Urges Senate to Block Hoagland Nomination 2. Western Prelate Issues Appeal for Lebanon Victims 3. Rights Group Asks Kocharian to Include Refugee Issues in Talks 1. Rep. Pallone Urges Senate to Block Hoagland Nomination WASHINGTON--In a July 25th speech on the House floor, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) called on the US Senate to block the nomination of Richard Hoagland to serve as the next US Ambassador to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In his remarks, the New Jersey legislator outlined the reasons for his opposition, notably Ambassador-designate Hoagland's denial of the Armenian Genocide and his evasiveness and lack of responsiveness to Senate inquiries. He also highlighted the failure of the Administration to respond honestly to communications it held with the Turkish government concerning the firing of current US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans over his February 2005 remarks affirming the Armenian Genocide. Congressman Pallone closed his speech by noting his "fear that sending an ambassador to Yerevan who denies the Armenian genocide would represent a tragic escalation in the Bush administration's ignorance and support in Turkey's campaign of genocide denial. The State Department has reported to Senate offices that they expect Ambassador Designate Hoagland to be confirmed during a business meeting early next week. I would urge the Senate to block his nomination until this administration recognizes the Armenian genocide." The full text of Congressman Pallone's speech, excerpted from the July 25 Congressional Record, is provided below: Ambassador Nominee Richard Hoagland Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to express my concerns with the nomination of Richard Hoagland as US Ambassador to Armenia . Many questions remain regarding US policy on the Armenian genocide, and they remain unanswered. Key Senate Foreign Relations Committee members continue to have serious misgivings about the nomination. Two weeks ago, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee considered Mr. Hoagland's nomination. During the hearing, Mr. Hoagland failed to adequately respond to the questions asked by the Senators, including not clarifying the US's policy in the denial of the Armenian genocide. In many instances, he did not respond to specific Senate inquires. He diverted his answers by responding with what seemed like prepared talking points, and went to great lengths to avoid using the term genocide. Additionally, in response to a written inquiry from Senator John Kerry concerning Turkey's criminal prosecution of journalists for writing about the Armenian genocide, Mr. Hoagland referred to these writings as allegations. Mr. Speaker, the US has historically taken a leadership role in preventing genocide and human rights violations, but the Bush administration continues to play word games by not calling evil by its proper name. Instead, they refer to the mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians as tragic events. This term cannot be substituted for genocide. The two words are simply not synonymous. Mr. Speaker, there are historical documents that cannot be refuted, yet somehow the Administration continues to ignore the truth in fear of offending another government. The Bush administration has not offered a meaningful explanation of its reasons for firing the current US Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans. In fact, the State Department's assertion that it did not receive any communications from the Turkish Government concerning Ambassador Evans' February 2005 affirmation of the Armenian genocide is simply not credible. Official Department of Justice filings by the Turkish Government's registered foreign agent, the Livingston Group, document that there are at least four different occasions of communications with State Department officials following Ambassador Evans' remarks affirming the Armenian genocide. Still, the State Department refutes these claims. Mr. Speaker, this lack of honesty has been an all too common practice of the Bush administration. The American people and this Congress deserve a full and truthful account of the role of the Turkish Government in denying the Armenian genocide. Our Nation's response to genocide should not be denigrated to a level acceptable to the Turkish Government. It is bout time the Bush administration started dictating a policy for Americans and not for a foreign government. Mr. Speaker, I fear that sending an ambassador to Yerevan who denies the Armenian genocide would represent a tragic escalation in the Bush administration's ignorance and support in Turkey's campaign of genocide denial. The State Department has reported to Senate offices that they expect Ambassador Designate Hoagland to be confirmed during a business meeting early next week. I would urge the Senate to block his nomination until this administration recognizes the Armenian genocide. 2. Western Prelate Issues Appeal for Lebanon Victims Western Prelate, Archbishop Moushegh Madirossian issued an appeal to the Armenian community to assist in humanitarian efforts and prayers for the victims of the ongoing Israeli bombing of Lebanon, reported the Western Prelacy. Below is the translated text of the appeal: "Let Us Reach Out to the Victims in Lebanon" We know that our faithful have been following the calamity in Lebanon that has caused suffering for all the Lebanese people, but especially for innocent civilians. We would like to keep the public informed about appeals that have been made to His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, in support of Lebanon and the aid offered to the victims. The Prelate has been in constant contact with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, to become better informed about the situation and to hear the suggestions of His Holiness. on how we can lend a helping hand to the Lebanese people and especially our Armenian brethren. As stated in our previous press release, the Prelate celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord on Sunday July 23, at St. Garabed Church in Hollywood, where he also urged the faithful to provide aid to Lebanon. On this same day, a special prayer was also offered in all Prelacy churches for peace and for the innocent victims. The Prelate has also been in regular contact with the Consul General of Lebanon. The Prelacy has representatives on a committee established by the Consulate General to work towards securing assistance for Lebanon. The representatives are delegates Mr. Hrair Balian and Mr. Ghazaros Ghazarossian. Reflecting on the situation, the Prelate stated, "Lebanon and its people are once again subjected to dreadful conditions, at a time when the wounds from previous conflicts had not completely healed yet. Under the current situation, the Lebanese people and the Armenian community there are in need of assistance and support. Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again extend a plea to our Prelacy faithful and community organizations to assist the victims of Lebanon to the best of their abilities. We also pray for the fighting to come to an end as soon as possible and for peace to be restored in the country." 3. Rights Group Asks Kocharian to Include Refugee Issues in Talks YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Refugees and International Law civil association network has sent an open letter to Armenian President Robert Kocharian. The text of the letter is presented below: Your Excellency, Refugees and International Law civil association network, with a mission to protect rights of Armenian refugees expelled from Soviet Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan by force, suggests that you include the issue of 500,000 Armenian refugees in the agenda of your talks on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Any settlement, leaving out restoration and full protection of rights of hundreds of our compatriots is not satisfactory. Problems of Armenian refugees can be divided into three main categories: 1. Acquiring a Fatherland, 2. Compensation of direct material and moral damage, resulting from deportation from Soviet Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan 3. Compensation of indirect material and moral damage, resulting from deportation from Soviet Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan. Surveys among Armenian refugees indicate that they will not return to their previous residences under the jurisdiction of the Azerbaijan. We already had an opportunity to state that as the Azerbaijan has refused to become the successor of the Soviet Azerbaijan, the only legal successor of the latter is the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. If Armenian refugees from Soviet Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan are granted Nagorno-Karabakh citizenship and if they get territories, outside the boundaries, within which the Karabakh was declared, but on which it has jurisdiction over today, this can partially solve their problems. Refugees and International Law civil association network has also appealed to the US Embassy in Armenia, suggesting that it organizes a meeting with OSCE Minsk Group's US Co-Chair Matthew Bryza. During this meeting the group plans to submit a message to Mr. Bryza, addressed to Minsk Group co-chairs and discuss issues and concerns facing Armenian refugees." The same organization sent a similar message to Azeri President Ilham Aliyev. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.