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Genocide 'victim'
The State Department yesterday confirmed that the
U.S. ambassador to Armenia has been dismissed and
has resigned from the foreign service, saying only
that he "served at the pleasure of the president and
secretary" of state.
Ambassador John Evans, who is returning after only
two years of what is usually a three-year
assignment, has been at the center of a geopolitical
firestorm since he bucked official U.S. policy last
year by referring to the "genocide" of 1.5 million
Armenians in 1915 under the Ottoman Turkish Empire.
Armenian-American organizations yesterday expressed
outrage and opened an e-mail and letter-writing
campaign to Congress, where Mr. Evans has
significant support in the House.
"The U.S. ambassador to Armenia is being recalled
for honestly and accurately describing the Armenian
Genocide as a clear case of genocide," the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA) said yesterday.
The committee, on its Web site (www.anca.org),
called for congressional hearings and questioned
whether pressure from the Turkish government had any
role in the dismissal.
Word of the action began circulating on Capitol Hill
on Wednesday, when the White House notified the
Senate that President Bush intended to nominate
Richard Hoagland to replace Mr. Evans. Mr. Hoagland
is currently ambassador to Tajikistan.
Rep. Edward J. Markey on Wednesday sent a letter to
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed by 60
House members, asking her to explain the decision.
"I am seriously concerned at the early departure of
Ambassador Evans," the Massachusetts Democrat said.
"I hope this sudden action by the State Department
is not related to comments made by Mr. Evans about
the Armenian Genocide."
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack yesterday
responded to a reporter who asked about the
dismissal, saying, "Look, we, all appointed
officials — me, everybody who goes through Senate
confirmation — serve at the pleasure of the
president and the secretary."
He added that Mr. Evans "should be congratulated for
his long career and distinguished service" for 35
years.
U.S. policy has been to refrain from using the word
"genocide" to describe the killings of Armenians
during World War I to avoid angering Turkey, a key
ally and NATO member.
Mr. Bush recently called it "one of the great
tragedies of history," although President Reagan
called it genocide in a 1981 proclamation on the
Holocaust.
"Like the genocide of the Armenians before it ...
the lessons of the Holocaust must never be
forgotten," Mr. Reagan said.
Mr. Evans first crossed the line in a Feb. 24, 2005,
speech to ANCA.
"I will today call it the Armenian Genocide," he
said. "I think we, the U.S. government, owe you, our
fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of
discussing this problem. The Armenian Genocide was
the first genocide of the 20th century."
Four days later, he issued a clarification, calling
his remarks "inappropriate" and noting that U.S.
policy had not changed.
'Idol' speculation
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was one of the
millions of fans glued to their TV sets Wednesday
night to find out who would become the next
"American Idol," reports our State Department
correspondent Nicholas Kralev.
Miss Rice, who an aide said tunes in to the program
from time to time, had a personal stake in the
competition. Not only is she a musician herself, but
the winner, Taylor Hicks, comes from her hometown of
Birmingham, Ala.
The aide jokingly suggested that Miss Rice and Mr.
Hicks could perform together, with her playing the
piano and him singing. That opportunity might arise
soon, as the television show's finalists begin a
summer tour that is likely to include Washington.
Washingtontimes com
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