BAKU: Nicolae Ureki:”President Aliyev Intends To Participate In Buch

NICOLAE UREKI: “PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV INTENDS TO PARTICIPATE IN BUCHAREST”

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 24 2006

“President Ilham Aliyev intends to participate in The Black Sea Forum
for Dialogue and Partnership summit to be held in Bucharest on June
5”, ambassador of Romania to Azerbaijan Nicolae Ureki has told a
press conference.

The ambassador said that he expects participation of Georgia, Moldova,
Ukraine and Armenia presidents, Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece to be
represented in prime minister and Foreign minister Heads level.

Series of international, as well as officials of Norway, the US and
Israel have been invited. Political statement called “The Black Sea
Forum for Dialogue and Partnership” is expected to be adopted in the
measure. According to the diplomat, the project of the document was
presented to the Black Sea region countries, several meetings have
been held for agreeing the documents on the experts’ level. The
objective of the meeting is energy security, crises management,
protection of environment, holding of inter-cultural dialogue.

Nicolae Ureki said that issue on “frozen conflicts” will not be
discussed at the forum. The ambassador stated that there is not
alternative to Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. Stressing
Azerbaijani-Armenian Presidents meeting is considered within Bucharest
summit, Nicolae Ureki said he hopes for finding way out of the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict which lasted long.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANKARA: Prime Minister Returns From Algeria With ‘StrategicCooperati

PRIME MINISTER RETURNS FROM ALGERIA WITH ‘STRATEGIC COOPERATION’
By Mustafa Unal, Algeria

Zaman, Turkey
May 24 2006

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first Turkish prime minister to visit Algeria
after an interval of 21 years, signed a “friendship and cooperation”
agreement with President Abdulaziz Buteflika yesterday.

This agreement, Algeria had previously signed with only Spain,
Portugal and Italy, shows the importance attached to Turkey, and their
relationship that will be based on a more strategic foundation with
this signature.

Erdogan and Buteflika, who met for three hours at Palace Muradiye in
the capital, sent messages of friendship.

Erdogan said the signatures are an investment in the fields of
politics, the military, economy, commerce, and culture between the
two brother countries.

During the sincere talks, Buteflika gave Erdogan the message, “We
consider ourselves as a part of the Ottomans and protect Ottoman
works here.”

Erdogan, reminding that Turkish Minister for Culture and Tourism
Atilla Koc also participated in the visit, emphasized that they would
do everything possible to ensure the restoration of Ottoman works in
the country.

“Let’s make the Mediterranean a peaceful basin again,” Buteflika
said, and stressed, they support Turkey on all issues, including the
Armenian issue.

In the talks, both countries reached a principle agreement in order
to make joint searches for oil, natural gas and metals.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Jet’s Black Boxes To Be Analyzed In Paris

ARMENIAN JET’S BLACK BOXES TO BE ANALYZED IN PARIS

Interfax, Russia
May 24 2006

YEREVAN. May 24 (Interfax) – The flight recorders from the Armenian
Airlines Airbus A320 which crashed off the Russian coast near Sochi
on May 3 will be analyzed in Paris, Armenian Civil Aviation Department
press secretary Gayane Davtian told Interfax on Wednesday.

“Both black boxes will be brought first to Moscow, where they will
probably be examined, and possibly a documentary act will be drawn up,
and then to Paris for decoding,” Davtian said.

“The final decision on decoding the black boxes in Paris has already
been taken,” she said.

Civil Aviation Department flight safety division chief Gagik Galstian
will go to Paris from Yerevan as well, she said.

The analysis of the black boxes might take “two or three days,”
she said.

“However, if the black boxes are damaged, decoding might take much
longer,” Davtian said.

Russian Searchers Recover 2nd Flight Recorder From Armenian Airliner

RUSSIAN SEARCHERS RECOVER 2ND FLIGHT RECORDER FROM ARMENIAN AIRLINER

Pravda, Russia
May 24 2006

Russian searchers on Wednesday recovered the second flight recorder
from an Armenian airliner that crashed into the Black Sea three weeks
ago, killing all 113 people aboard, local media reported.

The flight data recorder was lifted by a diving apparatus from a
depth of about 1,640 feet (500 meters) after it was separated from
a thick layer of silt, said Transport Ministry spokeswoman Svetlana
Kryshtanovskaya, according to the RIA-Novosti news agency.

The so-called ‘black box” was discovered within 16 meters (50 feet)
from the spot where workers on Monday found the plane’s cockpit
voice recorder.

Russian television channels showed footage of a yellow,
remote-controlled apparatus lifting the red recorder from the sea
surface.

Investigators hope the two recorders will help answer why the Armavia
Airbus A-320 plane plunged into the sea on May 3 amid heavy rain and
poor visibility. The flight had been en route to the southern Russian
sea resort Sochi from the Armenian capital, Yerevan. All passengers
and crew members on board were killed.

Prosecutors almost immediately dismissed the possibility that
terrorists had brought the plane down, and officials point to rough
weather or pilot error as the likely cause. Armavia officials have
suggested, however, that air traffic controllers were at least partly
to blame, reports the AP.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANKARA: Russian Historian: Turkey’s Recognition Of Armenian Massacre

RUSSIAN HISTORIAN: TURKEY’S RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN MASSACRE MATTER OF TIME

Journal of Turkish Weekly
May 24 2006

A Russian PhD in history Viktor Bezotosny told the Regnum news agency
that Turkey should recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915, as the
fact is grounded by undisputable proofs. Bezotosny is head of the
19th century department at the State Historical Museum in Russia.

According to Regnum, Bezotosny said the question of recognizing the
“historic truth” is a question of time.

“The whole world knows about the events of 1915 and calls them
Genocide. It’s strange, that only one country rejects it and tries
to misinterpret and escape from historic facts. There are good and
bad pages in history of any country.”

Adding that, “Well, they should be bold and take responsibility to tell
the truth, otherwise memory of those killed in those awful years is
being defiled,” Viktor Bezotosny is quoted as saying. The historian
believes that the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and the Holocaust are
results of domestic policies pursued by countries that committed
such villainy.

It is worth mentioning, Russia recognized the Armenian Genocide
officially. Fact of the Genocide was recognized by many countries,
including France, Uruguay, lower chamber of the Italian parliament,
several US states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium,
Wales, Swiss National Council, Canadian House of Commons and Polish
Seym.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Second Flight Data Recorder Of Armenian Crashed Plane A-320 Found

SECOND FLIGHT DATA RECORDER OF ARMENIAN CRASHED PLANE A-320 FOUND

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 24 2006

MOSCOW, May 24 (Itar-Tass) – Specialists have found on the bottom
of the Black Sea the second flight data recorder (black box) from
the A-320 airliner of the Armenian Armavia airline that fell into
the sea near the resort city of Sochi on May 3. Efforts to lift
it from the seabed have proved futile so far due to bad weather,
Russian television’s Channel One reported on Wednesday.

The first of the three black boxes of the crashed airbus was lifted
from a depth of 500 metres on Monday. It was recovered from under a
5-centimetre layer of sludge.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Fate Of GUAM Will Be Decided By Ilham Aliyev

THE FATE OF GUAM WILL BE DECIDED BY ILHAM ALIYEV
by Tatiana Ivzhenko
Translated by Elena Leonova

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No. 101, May 24, 2006, EV
Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part A (Russia)
May 24, 2006 Wednesday

Energy-rich Azerbaijan as a key player in an alternative to the CIS;
GUAM – the alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova
– launched its new image and format yesterday. Decisions made
by President Ilkham Aliyev of Azerbaijan could either cement and
reinforce the alliance, or destroy it. Will he choose Russia or the
United States?

The GUAM summit that closed in Kiev yesterday, and the plans announced
there – predictably, not involving Russia – came as no surprise. The
presidents of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and Azerbaijan had planned
this meeting for a long time, and given the obviously pro-Western
course taken by Tbilisi, Kiev, and Chisinau, it wasn’t hard to guess
the meeting’s political direction.

At first sight, only President Ilkham Aliyev of Azerbaijan stood out
from the Kiev Quartet; there seemed to be no reason to suspect him
of lacking loyalty to Moscow. But he did attend this GUAM summit;
what’s more, he arrived before President Viktor Yushchenko’s guests
from Georgia and Moldova. And we can’t rule ought the possibility
that his presence could be decisive. GUAM launched its new image
and format yesterday. Eventually, Aliyev could either cement and
reinforce this with his energy resources, or destroy it. The former
scenario would happen if Baku follows the lead of Tbilisi, Kiev,
and Chisinau in regarding the United States as its chief partner. The
latter scenario would apply if Aliyev decides that alliance with Russia
is more advantageous or more promising. The Azeri leader’s dialogues
with Washington and Moscow have long been described by the media as
“political see-saws.” Aliyev has already shown that he can manipulate
his interlocutors, avoiding direct pressure but cleverly using “the
enemies of his friends” to achieve his own goals.

In March, when President Vladimir Putin visited Baku for the opening
ceremony of Russia Year in Azerbaijan, Aliyev gave Moscow assurances of
loyalty and partnership. At around the same time, Azeri Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov announced that his country has no intention of
“joining a coalition against anyone, and wishes to establish neighborly
relations with all countries in the region.”

Within a few days, Aliyev met with the presidents of Kazakhstan
and Georgia, promising each of them participation in the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil transport project, which bypasses Russia. The
first of these meetings (with President Nursultan Nazarbayev of
Kazakhstan) emphasized the role of the CIS in developing cooperation;
the second meeting (with President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia)
emphasized the significance of regional associations like GUAM.

Aliyev followed this up by giving a demonstratively warm reception
to the Iranian defense minister, and then paid a visit to Washington.

Within a few days, Azerbaijan effectively offered its chief partners
some terms that required reciprocal moves. Then Aliyev could examine
the offers and choose an ally.

Judging by a number of Aliyev’s statements, the stance taken by the
United States and Russia on Nagorno-Karabakh regulation plays the
decisive role here.

Sergei Markedonov, department head at the Russian Institute of
Political and Military Analysis, commented as follows on what Aliyev
said in Washington: “To all appearances, Baku’s primary concern is
to restore its sovereignty over the rebel territory, with the help
of a strong ally. The chances of American-Azeri cooperation becoming
stronger depend entirely on the US stance on Nagorno-Karabakh, and
whether Washington is prepared to put some pressure on Armenia.” If
there’s a “breakthrough” on Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan is prepared
to become more amenable on the Iran issue.

The US government is probably giving some serious thought to this
proposed configuration. At any rate, the impossible became reality
during Aliyev’s visit to Washington: he didn’t receive a single
reminder about human rights abuses or failure to observe democratic
standards, even though courts in Baku were convicting opposition
members even as the Washington talks were under way, and that had
been considered the main issue in American-Azeri relations.

It may be suggested that the topic of resolving “frozen conflicts”
was included among the urgent priority issues on the GUAM summit
agenda at the instigation of the United States. Thus, Washington could
temporarily fill the niche of chief parner and ally, not only for
Azerbaijan, but also for Georgia and Moldova. And Ukraine, in these
circumstances, could aspire to the politically rewarding mission of
“chief peacemaker.”

The twist, however, is that this whole construct is based on
Azerbaijan’s energy resources; presumably, Baku is supposed to use
them to safeguard its partners against pressure from Russia. The
question of whether this is advantageous for Azerbaijan isn’t being
considered as yet – but it could arise at any moment if Russia gives
Azerbaijan an alliance guarantee with regard to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Note that mistrust arose when Russia started withdrawing its troops
from Georgia; Baku started fearing that some of those forces might be
transferred to Armenia. This was one of the major issues at Aliyev’s
talks with Putin.

Judging by the outcome of those talks, Putin didn’t give Aliyev any
assurances. Putin prefers to play his own political chess-games, in
which Aliyev might not be an important piece at all. Based on this
possibility, we might speculate that the Kremlin is simply waiting for
the right moment to intervene in somebody else’s game. In that case,
Aliyev will soon receive a partnership offer he can’t refuse.

He would immediately lose enthusiasm for the United States and its
creature, GUAM – thus threatening the main component of the new
organization: the energy component.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Andranik Margarian: Armenia Attempts To Bring Relations With NATO To

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: ARMENIA ATTEMPTS TO BRING RELATIONS WITH NATO TO NEW LEVEL, NOT PUTTING ISSUE OF MEMBERSHIP TO NATO ON AGENDA

Noyan Tapan
May 24 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia does not oppose cooperation
with the CIS, European Union, NATO or Collective Security Treaty
Organization. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated about it
during the internet conference of the “Azg” (nation) newspaper.

One of readers mentioned: “One of the main reasons of Artur
Baghdasarian’s leaving the coalition was his statement concerning our
country’s orientation towards the European Union. Are you against
such an orientation and deepening cooperation with the NATO and
EU?” In responce, A.Margarian stated that the authorities of Armenia,
including the Government, are not against the cooperation with the
NATO as Armenia was involved in the European Union’s New Neighborhood
Policy program, presented the National Actions Plan of implementation
of the RA-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Besides, Armenia
cooperates with the NATO at present as well, the Indivudual Partnership
Actions Plan with that structure was adopted. “So, we never oppose
the CIS, European Union, NATO or Collective Security Treaty member
countries and have mentioned many times that in its foreign policy
Armenia is led by the principle of mutual supplement and builds a
multifoliated system of securing the safety,” the RA Prime Minister
emphasized.

According to him, since the first years of independence the Republic
of Armenia has gone on the way of the European integration what
does not yet mean to join the European Union or become a member of
the NATO. “Our state at least has no such priorities in its foreign
policy. Thus, Armenia observes development of relations with the
NATO as an important component of the European integration policy and
makes an attempt to bring its relations with that alliance to a new
qualitative level, not putting the issue of membership to the NATO on
the agenda of the foreign policy.” A.Margarian also mentioned that
at present Armenia’s relations with the NATO “develop woderfully”
as Armenia actively participates in all the regional programs of the
NATO and does not yeild neighbors of the region in the sense of the
level of relations with the Euro-Atlantic Alliance. “Armenia always
supports development of the regional cooperation within the framework
of the Partnership for Peace program and protects all the steps taken
by the NATO in this direction,” the Prime Minister stated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgian Leadership Policy Provokes Escalation Of Conflicts InJavakh

GEORGIAN LEADERSHIP POLICY PROVOKES ESCALATION OF CONFLICTS IN JAVAKHETIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 17:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The policy pursued by the incumbent Georgian
leadership provokes new conflicts in the Azeri-inhabited Kvemo-Kartli
(Borchaly) and Armenian-inhabited Samtskhe Javakheti (Javakhk)
regions of Georgia, Justice party leader, former head of the Georgian
national security committee Igor Giorgadze, who is wanted by Interpol
at present, stated at a news conference in Moscow. “36 people were
killed in the Azeri-inhabited regions of Georgia. The Armenians
of Javakhetia, who have never voiced a wish to receive autonomy,
initiated the process in corpore now,” he said, reported IA Regnum.

ANCA: Rep. Markey Leads House Opposition to Amb. Evans Recall

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
May 24, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

REP. MARKEY LEADS CONGRESSIONAL OPPOSITION TO
WHITE HOUSE RECALL OF U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

— Letter Signed by 60 U.S. Representatives
Sent on Eve of White House Announcement
of Ambassador’s Replacement

— ANCA Calls for Senate Foreign Relations
Committee to Hold Hearing on Firing

WASHINGTON, DC — Over 60 Members of Congress, led by Rep. Ed Markey
(D-MA), sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking
for clarification on reports of U.S. Ambassador to Armenian John
Evans’ recall over his forthright remarks about the Armenian
Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

The letter was sent on the eve of a May 23rd White House
announcement nominating Richard Hoagland to serve as the new
Ambassador to Armenia. Amb. Evans will be relieved of his duties
as soon as Hoagland’s Senate confirmation process is completed.

The Administration has recalled Amb. Evans over his February 2005
statements at Armenian American community functions, during which
he properly characterized the Armenian Genocide as ‘genocide.’
Following his statements, Amb. Evans was apparently forced to issue
a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian Genocide
were his personal views and did not represent a change in US
policy. He subsequently issued a correction to this statement,
replacing a reference to the genocide with the word “tragedy.” The
American Foreign Service Association, which had planned to honor
Amb. Evans with the “Christian A. Herter Award,” recognizing
creative thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign
Service, reportedly rescinded the award following pressure from the
State Department a few days before Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Washington, DC to meet with President
Bush.

“Ambassador Evans has been recalled for doing nothing more than
honoring the forsaken pledge of his president,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. “We want to thank Congressman Markey and
his 59 colleagues for calling for a clarification and rejecting the
Armenian Genocide ‘gag-rule’ imposed by the Turkish government and,
sadly, enforced by our own State Department.”

“Armenian Americans truly regret that the Administration lacks the
courage to speak honestly about its reasons for firing Ambassador
Evans,” added Hamparian. “We call upon the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee – the Congressional panel constitutionally
charged with oversight of diplomatic appointments – to hold a
hearing thoroughly examining the reasons behind this firing, the
role of the Turkish government, and the broader implications for
the future of the Foreign Service that a senior American diplomat’s
career has been ended simply for speaking the truth.”

The 60 Members of Congress 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.”

“I am seriously concerned at the early departure of Ambassador
Evans,” stated Rep. Markey. “I hope that this sudden action by the
State Department is not related to comments made by Ambassador
Evans about the Armenian genocide. 60 members of Congress have
signed on to a letter to Secretary Rice asking questions about
whether or not Ambassador Evans was forced out of his post. I look
forward to a response from the State Department.”

On March 8th, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian expressed grave
disappointment at reports that Amb. Evans would be penalized for
speaking the truth about the Armenian Genocide. In a letter to
Secretary Rice, Hachikian wrote that, “the prospect that a U.S.
envoy’s posting – and possibly his career – has been cut short due
to his honest and accurate description of a genocide is profoundly
offensive to American values and U.S. standing abroad –
particularly in light of President Bush’s call for moral clarity in
the conduct of our international affairs.”

Subsequently, several Members of Congress, including Congressional
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-
CA) and Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA) have each called on Secretary
Rice for a clarification of the State Department’s position on this
issue. The Los Angeles Times, in a strongly worded March 22nd
editorial, made direct reference to Amb. Evans’ impending
dismissal, calling on the Turkish Government and U.S. State
Department to end their policies of genocide denial.

Members of Congress joining Rep. Markey in cosigning the letter to
Secretary Rice were: Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI),
Charles Bass (R-NH), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV),
Howard Berman (D-CA), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH),
Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO),
John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Scott
Garrett (R-NJ), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX), Raul
Grijalva (D-AZ), Stephanie Herseth (D-SD), Rush Holt (D-NJ),
Michael Honda (D-CA), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI), Zoe
Lofgren (D-CA), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn
Maloney (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA),
Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Candice Miller (R-
MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Devin Nunes (R-
CA), John Olver (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R-
MI), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Linda Sanchez (D-
CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Joe Schwarz (R-
MI), Mark Souder (R-IN), Ted Strickland (D-OH), John Tierney (D-
MA), Mark Udall (D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter
Visclosky (D-IN), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), and
Anthony Weiner (D-NY).

The full text of the Congressional letter follows.

#####

Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515

May 22, 2006

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice:

We are writing to express our concerns regarding recent information
indicating that U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans would be
departing early this summer from his assignment as a result of
declaring in February 2005 that “the Armenian Genocide was the
first genocide of the twentieth century,” during public exchanges
with Armenian-American communities. It is our hope that these
announcements are inaccurate given Evans’ service to his country –
in the Foreign Service and as a well-respected ambassador – in a
region of strategic importance to the United States.

Ambassador Evans issued a “clarification” and then a “correction”
of his remarks. Last June, the American Foreign Service
Association originally intended to honor the Ambassador for his
“constructive dissent” and intellectual courage and initiative with
the Christian A. Herter Award as a result of his recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, but later withdrew the distinction.

It now appears that Evans is being forced out of his post. We must
not allow the perception to linger that he is being required to
vacate his position early for accurately labeling the cataclysmic
events of 1915 as genocide.

By employing the proper term last year, the Ambassador was only
building on previous statements by our leaders in government, as
well as the repeated declarations of numerous world-renowned
scholars. In 1981, President Reagan issued a presidential
proclamation that said in part: “like the genocide of the Armenians
before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it —
and like too many other persecutions of too many other people —
the lessons of the Holocaust must never be forgotten . . .” In
effect, Ambassador Evans did nothing more than succinctly repeat
the conclusions enunciated by those before him.

We have also heard that concerns raised by the Government of Turkey
regarding Ambassador Evans’ remarks may have played a role in this
affair. We certainly hope that this was not the case. 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,
it would establish a dangerous precedent and be injurious to the
long-standing relationship built on trust and friendship between
the two countries. In addition, Assistant Secretary of State
Daniel Fried recently stated his friendship and support for Evans.

At this critical time in U.S. history and the South Caucasus
region, we respectfully request your clarification regarding the
current status of Ambassador John Evans. It is our hope that that
he will not be forced to prematurely end his exemplary service to
the United States and the Republic of Armenia because of his
reaffirmation of the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide.

Sincerely,

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

www.anca.org