Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
December 11, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
U.S. SENATE RETURNS HOAGLAND NOMINATION TO THE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate, having failed to confirm Dick
Hoagland to serve as Ambassador to Armenia, returned his nomination
to the President on December 8th, upon the adjournment of the 109th
Congress, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
"With the adjournment of the 109th Congress, we renew our call upon
the President to recognize that – as a matter of basic morality – a
genocide denier should never represent the United States in
Armenia, and that – as a matter of diplomacy – a denier of the
Armenian Genocide simply cannot effectively promote U.S. interests
or advance American values in Yerevan," said ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian.
Among the options available to the President after the convening of
the 110th Congress in January are to offer an entirely new nominee,
to resubmit Hoagland’s nomination for a second round of
consideration, to make a recess appointment of Hoagland
circumventing the Senate confirmation process, or simply to allow
the ambassadorial post in Yerevan to remain empty.
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) placed a hold on the Hoagland
nomination on September 12th. In announcing this decision, the New
Jersey legislator cited the principled stand taken by former U.S.
Ambassador John Evans, who was fired for speaking truthfully about
the Armenian Genocide, underscoring his "great concerns that Mr.
Hoagland’s confirmation would be a step backward." Citing the
opposition of the Armenian American community and the growing
controversy within Congress surrounding the nomination, Senator
Menendez was joined on December 1st by incoming Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) in calling on President George W. Bush to
withdraw the Hoagland nomination and propose a new candidate to
serve in this important diplomatic post. They stressed that, in
light of the broad-based opposition within Congress, the extensive
media coverage this issue has received, and the strong stand of the
Armenian American community against the nomination, "it would serve
neither our national interests nor the U.S.-Armenia relationship to
expect Ambassador-designate Hoagland to carry out his duties under
these highly contentious and profoundly troubling circumstances."
According to Section 6 of Rule XXXI of the Standing Rules of the
Senate: "Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the
session at which they are made shall not be acted upon at any
succeeding session without being again made to the Senate by the
President; and if the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for
more than thirty days, all nominations pending and not finally
acted upon at the time of taking such adjournment or recess shall
be returned by the Secretary to the President, and shall not again
be considered unless they shall again be made to the Senate by the
President."