WASHINGTON, DC – Four leading Congressional friends of Armenia, George Radanovich (R-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), have strongly encouraged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to reconsider the recall of Ambassador Evans, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a June 22nd letter, the legislators noted that “after months of speculation,” the recall of Ambassador Evans “was confirmed when the President nominated Richard Hoagland to serve as the new United States Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia on May 23. While there has been no official acknowledgement that Ambassador Evans removal was a result of his February 2005 statement that the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th Century, all evidence points to that conclusion.”

“We join with Armenian Americans across the country in thanking Congressman Radanovich, Schiff, Pallone, and Knollenberg – the four lead authors of the Armenian Genocide Resolution – for once again taking the lead in challenging the State Department’s failed policy of complicity in Turkey’s denial of this crime against all humanity,” said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. “We share their belief that Ambassador Evans’ recall should be reversed and look forward, in the days ahead, to learning more about the circumstances behind this ill-advised, morally unjustifiable, and increasingly controversial action.”

The Congressional letter closed with the four legislators expressing their belief that “the United States must formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, and we will continue to work towards that goal. Allowing John Evans to continue as Ambassador to Armenia sends a strong message on the necessity of Turkish recognition, and will be an important step in establishing the U.S. position on the Armenian Genocide.”

The State Department, with the blessing of the White House, fired Amb. Evans in response to 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 forced to issue a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian Genocide were his personal views and did not represent a change in U.S. 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 decided 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 in the days leading up to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington, DC to meet with President Bush.

The full text of the letter to Secretary Rice is provided below.

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

Dear Secretary Rice:

We are writing to reiterate our concern over the recall of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans. After months of speculation, this action was confirmed when the President nominated Richard Hoagland to serve as the new United States Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia on May 23. While there has been no official acknowledgement that Ambassador Evans removal was a result of his February 2005 statement that the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th Century, all evidence points to that conclusion.

After acknowledging the Armenian Genocide last year, Ambassador Evans quickly issued a clarification in which he reassured the public that U.S. policy on the issue remains unchanged. In so doing, he clarified that his Genocide acknowledgement did not represent the views of the State Department or the White House. Despite these clarifications, Evans tenure as Ambassador has been scheduled for a premature end.

It has been consistent U.S. policy to acknowledge and rebuke the Ottoman Empires attempted annihilation of the Armenian people during World War I. As recently as this past April, President Bush called it one of the great tragedies of history. We strongly encourage you to reconsider the recall of Ambassador Evans. Allowing the Ambassador to remain in his post and complete his tenure will demonstrate to Turkey that the United States stands firmly by this recognition, and that it wholly supports Turkish recognition of the Genocide.

We believe that the United States must formally recognize the Armenian Genocide, and we will continue to work towards that goal. Allowing John Evans to continue as Ambassador to Armenia sends a strong message on the necessity of Turkish recognition, and will be an important step in establishing the U.S. position on the Armenian Genocide.

Thank you for your attention to our concerns.

Sincerely,

George Radanovich (R-CA)
Adam Schiff (D-CA)
Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)