/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 10 US Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus, expressed his extreme disappointment to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over reports that the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, is being forced from office based upon truthful and forthright statements last year about the Armenian Genocide, reports the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a March 10th letter, Rep. Pallone shared with the Secretary that he is “outraged that the State Department is recalling Ambassador Evans as retaliation for statements he made in recognition of the Armenian Genocide.” He added that, “it is simply wrong for the State Department to punish Ambassador Evans for statements he made that are factually correct. Accordingly, I am asking you for an explanation as to why Ambassador Evans was removed from his post. . . This is the wrong message to send to the world. I look forward to a timely response from your office.”
To note, The California Courier wrote that the U.S. Department of State took the decision to recall John Evans from Armenia. Citing Armenian sources the newspaper said Mr. Evans has already informed the RA authorities of his departure. “After months of uncertainty, it now appears that the rumors about his possible dismissal have finally become reality. The State Department recently finalized the decision to recall him. According to reliable Armenian governmental sources, Amb. Evans informed high-ranking Armenian officials last week about his departure in the coming months, pending the Senate approval of his likely successor, Richard E. Hoagland, who is currently the U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan. Knowledgeable U.S. sources in Washington have confirmed to this writer that Amb. Evans was being recalled because of his candid remarks on the Armenian Genocide. Last year, during a public gathering at the University of California at Berkeley, Amb. Evans courageously said: “I will today call it the Armenian Genocide…. I informed myself in depth about it. I think we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone who has studied it … there’s no doubt in my mind [as to] what happened…. I think it is unbecoming of us, as Americans, to play word games here. I believe in calling things by their name.” Referring to the Armenian Genocide as “the first genocide of the 20th century,” he said: “I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at addressing this issue.” Amb. Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with a legal advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the events of 1915 were “genocide by definition.” Within days of making these statements and after complaints from Turkish and Azeri officials to the State Department, Amb. Evans was ordered by his superiors to issue “a clarification” in which he said that “misunderstandings” might have arisen as a result of his earlier comments. He said that he had used the term “genocide” in his “personal capacity,” the article says.
The decision on recall of an Ambassador is taken by the President of the United States only, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans stated at a news conference in Yerevan. “I won’t be the Ambassador to Armenia eternally, but I have not received any document on my recall from the U.S. President yet,” Mr. Evans said when commenting on The California Courier report. US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack stated he knows nothing of recalling US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans. «I am not aware if we recalled anyone. I suppose John Evans still serves as Ambassador in Yerevan,» he remarked.
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