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ANCA: Amb. Evans' Statements on Genocide Do Not Represent FormalChan

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  • ANCA: Amb. Evans' Statements on Genocide Do Not Represent FormalChan

    Armenian National Committee of America
    888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
    Washington, DC 20006
    Tel: (202) 775-1918
    Fax: (202) 775-5648
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Internet: www.anca.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    February 28, 2005
    Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
    Tel: (202) 775-1918


    AMBASSADOR EVANS' STATEMENTS RECOGNIZING THE ARMENIAN
    GENOCIDE DO NOT REPRESENT A FORMAL CHANGE IN U.S. POLICY

    -- ANCA Voices Community Outrage Over Administration's Inability
    to Withstand Turkish Pressure over Ambassador's Statements

    WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, only
    days after completing an official tour of Armenian American communities
    during which he repeatedly gave recognition to the Armenian Genocide,
    has noted that these comments were his private views and do not
    reflect a change in U.S. government policy. His statement on this
    subject was posted today on the Embassy's website - www.usa.am.

    "Armenian Americans are profoundly disappointed by those influential
    officials that remain within the Administration who - against all
    facts and contrary to U.S. interests - are still able to impose their
    agenda on every front of the increasingly untenable and lop-sided
    U.S.-Turkey relationship. This is particularly troubling, coming at
    a time when Turkey has obstructed U.S. regional objectives, deceived
    U.S. policymakers, and fostered an unprecedented level of anti-American
    sentiment among its citizens. As a community, we vigorously condemn
    the ongoing policy of U.S. complicity in Turkey's shameful campaign
    of Genocide denial," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

    "Regardless of the disappointing outcome of this episode, we commend
    Amb. Evans for his courage in coming forward and publicly stating his
    views on the Armenian Genocide, views that are shared by all but the
    Turkish government and its surrogates. In so doing, the Ambassador
    has placed this issue prominently on America's public agenda. For our
    part, as Armenian Americans, on this year of the 90th anniversary
    of the Armenian Genocide, we will pursue this matter with renewed
    vigor - with the White House, Congress, and the entire foreign policy
    community," added Hamparian.

    Ambassador Evans comments were made at a series of public Armenian
    American community outreach events in Boston, New York, New Jersey,
    San Francisco, Los Angeles, Fresno and Washington, DC. During his
    presentations in these cities, the Ambassador spoke with a level of
    candor on the Armenian Genocide that was specifically welcomed by
    Armenian Americans.

    During his public presentation at the University of California,
    Berkeley, hosted by Armenian Studies Program Executive Director,
    Prof. Stephan Astourian, Evans announced, "I will today call it the
    Armenian Genocide." The Ambassador, who has studied Russian History
    at Yale and Columbia universities and Ottoman History at the Kennan
    Institute, argued that, "we, the US government, owe you, our fellow
    citizens a more frank and honest way of discussing this problem.
    Today, as someone who's studied it... There's no doubt in my mind
    what happened." He explained that he had also consulted with a State
    Department lawyer who confirmed that the events of 1915 were "genocide
    by definition."

    Amb. Evans' commitment to moral clarity came through in further
    remarks, stating "I think it is unbecoming of us as Americans to play
    word games here. I believe in calling things by their name."

    During a speech to schoolchildren at the Alex Pilibos Armenian School
    in Los Angeles, Amb. Evans cited with pride that 37 U.S. states had
    recognized the Armenian Genocide.

    The full text of Amb. Evans February 28th statement follows.

    #####

    Public Affairs
    News Release

    EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
    MARSHALL BAGHRAMIAN STREET 18
    YEREVAN, ARMENIA
    TELEPHONE (+374 1) 52 78 71; 52 16 11; 52 46 61
    FAX (+374 1) 52 08 00
    E-MAIL: [email protected]

    U.S. Ambassador: Regarding comments made in the United States

    I would like to clarify U.S. policy. Misunderstandings make have
    arisen as a result of comments made by me during recent informal
    meetings with Armenian-American groups in the United States
    regarding the characterization of the Armenian tragedy in Ottoman
    Turkey and the future status of Nagorno Karabakh.

    Although I told my audiences that the United States policy on the
    Armenian Genocide has not changed, I used the term "genocide"
    speaking in what I characterized as my personal capacity. This was
    inappropriate.

    The President's annual statement on Armenian Remembrance Day
    articulates U.S. policy on this matter. My government acknowledges
    the tragedy that befell the Armenian community in Anatolia during
    the last years of the Ottoman Empire. We have been actively
    encouraging scholarly, civil society and diplomatic discussion of
    the forced killing and exile of Armenians in 1915. We have also
    encouraged economic and political dialogue between the governments
    of Armenia and Turkey in order to help all parties come to terms
    with these horrific events.

    In addition, my comments on the status of Nagorno Karabakh may have
    also created misunderstanding on U.S. policy. The U.S. government
    supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and holds that the
    future status of Nagorno Karabakh is a matter of negotiation
    between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

    The United States remains committed to finding a peaceful
    settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through the Minsk group
    process. We are encouraged by the continuing talks between the
    Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan under the auspice of
    the Minsk group co-chairs.

    I deeply regret any misunderstanding caused by my comments.

    Sincerely,

    John M. Evans
    U.S. Ambassador to Armenia
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