06 05 28 - SUPPORTS to AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS, punished for properly recognize the Armenian Genocide

Relayed ANCA : Jean Eckian

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 Evans¹ recall over his forthright remarks about the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

"I am seriously concerned at the early departure of Ambassador Evans,² stated Rep. Markey. ³I 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."

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, ³we 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.² The Representatives, noting President Ronald Reagan¹s references to the Armenian Genocide, reminded Secretary Rice that Amb. Evans ³did nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by those before him.²

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 Œgenocide.¹ 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 ³tragedy.²
The American Foreign Service Association, which had planned to honor Amb.
Evans with the ³Christian A.Herter Award,²recognizing creative thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service, reportedly rescinded the award following pressure from the State Department a few days before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Washington, DC to meet with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.

Amb. Evans is, in effect, being punished for honoring his President's pledge to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide-a promise that George W. Bush made on the campaign trail in February of 2000 but abandoned once in the White House. Amb. Evans should be praised, not dismissed, for rejecting "gag-rules" imposed by the Turkish Government on the discussion of the Armenian Genocide by America's leaders at home and diplomats abroad.

To support and thanks Ambassador John Evans, to send a mall at this address United States Ambassy in Armenia

While supporting our Friends, we support the democratic spirit.

Thank you

Relayed ANCA : Jean Eckian

Ambassador Evans speaks Russian, French, Czech and some Farsi.

V.V