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Chairman Levin Questions Hagel On U.S.-Armenia Defense Relationship

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  • Chairman Levin Questions Hagel On U.S.-Armenia Defense Relationship

    CHAIRMAN LEVIN QUESTIONS HAGEL ON U.S.-ARMENIA DEFENSE RELATIONSHIP

    http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/02/12/chairman-levin-questions-hagel-on-u-s-armenia-defense-relationship/
    11:56 12.02.2013

    In response to a direct inquiry by Senate Armed Services Committee
    Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), President Obama's nominee to serve as
    Secretary of Defense, former Senator Chuck Hagel, called for the
    expansion of U.S.-Armenia defense relations, reported the Armenian
    National Committee of America (ANCA).

    "We would like to thank Chairman Levin for drawing attention, during
    this especially closely watched Senate confirmation process, to the
    importance of growth in the U.S.-Armenia defense relationship," said
    ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We share Senator Hagel's
    view that there is much room for the development of these ties, and
    look forward, should he be confirmed, to engaging with the Department
    of Defense on this matter."

    In response to a written inquiry by Chairman Levin, Senator Hagel
    explained "The U.S.-Armenia defense relationship is sound. As with
    all relationships, there is room to grow and areas where we can
    strengthen our cooperation and partnership." He went on to note
    that, if confirmed, "I would continue to engage Armenian leaders to
    strengthen existing areas of engagement and identify new areas of
    cooperation that support Armenia's defense reforms, especially its
    peacekeeping brigade, and continue its ability to deploy in coalition
    operations."

    In the days leading up to the Hagel confirmation hearing, ANCA
    activists across America, including those in Chairman Levin's state
    of Michigan, urged their legislators to engage the nominee on a range
    of issues of concern to the Armenian American community. Of special
    concern were statements by Hagel opposing official U.S. affirmation
    of the Armenian Genocide. "What happened in 1915 happened in 1915. As
    one United States Senator, I think the better way to deal with this is
    to leave it open to historians and others to decide what happened and
    why," then-Senator Hagel told a group of Armenian reporters during
    a trip to Armenia in 2005. "The fact is that this region needs to
    move forward," Hagel added. "We need to find a lasting, just peace
    between Turkey and Armenia and the other nations of this region. I
    am not sure that by going back and dealing with that in some way that
    causes one side or the other to be put in difficult spot, helps move
    the peace process forward."

    Chairman Levin announced his intention to bring Hagel's nomination
    for a committee vote on Tuesday, February 12th, opening the door for
    a full Senate vote later this week.

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