Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
HOUSE MEMBERS DISTURBED BY STATE DEPARTMENT NON-RESPONSE
TO CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY ON AMB. EVANS’ FIRING
"The Bush Administration has once again failed to answer the
question of whether or not the early departure of U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia John Evans is related to comments he
made about the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, the Bush
Administration continues to duck when given the opportunity to
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide."
— Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA)
WASHINGTON, DC – Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have
expressed disappointment at the Administration’s repeated failure
to provide a clear and straightforward explanation for the dismissal
of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, even as the State
Department issued yet another letter sidestepping the issue, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In their response to the May 22nd letter spearheaded by Rep. Edward
Markey (D-MA) and cosigned by 60 House members, Assistant Secretary
for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey Bergner failed, once again, to address
reports that Amb. Evans’ was being recalled for his statements on
the Armenian Genocide. The letter began with the well-worn refrain
that "All Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President and as
advocates of the President’s policies." He went on to argue that,
"allegations that the U.S. is removing Ambassador Evans under pressure
from the Government of Turkey are simply untrue," despite the fact
that numerous Turkish press accounts in March of 2005 reported that
then Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Faruk Logoglu did indeed protest
Amb. Evans’ remarks to State Department officials.
The State Department’s letter, sent to House Members on July 11th,
went on to state that "The United States has never denied the tragic
events of 1915. . . . We believe this tragedy is of such enormous human
significance that its characterization should be determined through
heartfelt dialogue, not through diplomatic or political proclamations."
Several House Members immediately reacted to the response, expressing
concern that the State Department has, yet again, avoided providing
a clear reasoning for the Amb. Evans firing.
"The Bush Administration has once again failed to answer the
question of whether or not the early departure of U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans is related to comments he made about the Armenian
Genocide. Moreover, the Bush Administration continues to duck when
given the opportunity to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide,"
explained Rep. Markey. "The time has long since passed for President
Bush to follow through on his campaign promises and properly recognize
the Armenian Genocide. Only after President Bush accurately refers to
the mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians as genocide can we finally
tear down the last walls of denial."
Similarly, Congressional Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsor
George Radanovich (R-CA), lamented that "This response was,
unfortunately, what we have come to expect from the Administration
and those before it – respectfully acknowledging the mass killing of
1.5 million Armenians, but refusing to properly call it genocide. It
is simply incomprehensible to me how anyone can recognize the tragic
events of 1915, then turn around and implicitly deny that genocide
occurred by refusing to call it such for political reasons. I just
don’t understand that."
Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) wrote a letter back objecting to the State
Department’s response and calling the President’s actions on Armenian
Genocide recognition "woefully inadequate." Rep. Levin stated, "I did
have a strong negative reaction to your comments about 1915. I urge the
President to do more than ‘call on all concerned parties to engage in
thoughtful introspection’ which is woefully inadequate in the face of
the Administration’s repeated failure to call a genocide a genocide."
Again responding to the State Departments July 11th letter, Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA) noted that, "The State Department’s non- response on
the issue of Ambassador Evan’s departure confirms what we all know —
the Ambassador was pushed out the door for telling the truth about
the Armenian Genocide. This marks a sad day for the State Department
when it compounds an unwillingness to acknowledge one of the great
crimes in human history and more, disciplines those who do."
Rep. Schiff also commented on the State Department’s lack of response
to a series of questions submitted during a House International
Relations Committee hearing with Secretary Rice in February 16,
2006. "Secretary of State Rice’s failure to adequately respond to
questions I posed to her on this issue at a hearing months ago, is
a further indication of the Department’s illicit motive for Evan’s
hasty removal."
Similarly, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) noted that "The belated
response from the State Department regarding our inquiry into the
removal of Ambassador Evans is yet another statement without a real
explanation. Reports suggest that Evans is being unjustly penalized for
speaking the truth. It is unacceptable for the Bush administration to
punish Evans for his comments. What he did was courageous and should
be viewed as such."
In their letter to the State Department, Rep. Markey and fellow
Congressional cosigners expressed special concern about the destructive
precedent of recalling a U.S. diplomat for speaking truthfully on
matters of historical record. They wrote that, "we must not allow the
perception to linger that he [Amb. Evans] is being required to vacate
his position early for accurately labeling the cataclysmic events
of 1915 as genocide." The Representatives, noting President Ronald
Reagan’s references to the Armenian Genocide, reminded Secretary
Rice that Amb. Evans "did nothing more than succinctly repeat the
conclusions enunciated by those before him."
The Congressional signatories also expressed concern about the role of
the Government of Turkey in the impending removal of Amb. Evans from
his posting. "Were the United States to allow the views or beliefs
of a third country to interfere with our diplomatic postings to the
Republic of Armenia," wrote the House members, "it would establish a
dangerous precedent and be injurious to the long- standing relationship
built on trust and friendship between the two countries."
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