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  • ASBAREZ Online [05-25-2006]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    05/25/2006
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    1) Rep. Markey Leads Congressional Opposition to Recall of Ambassador Evans
    2) Amnesty International Criticizes Turkey for Slowing Reforms
    3) International Mediators Urge for Karabagh Peace
    4) Armenian Independence Day Festival to Be Held May 28

    1) Rep. Markey Leads Congressional Opposition to Recall of Ambassador Evans

    --Letter Signed by 60 US Representatives Sent on Eve of White House
    Announcement of Ambassador's Replacement

    WASHINGTON, DCOver 60 Members of Congress, led by Representative Ed Markey
    (D-MA), sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking for
    clarification on reports of US Ambassador to Armenian John Evans' recall over
    his forthright remarks about the Armenian genocide, reported the Armenian
    National Committee of America (ANCA).
    The letter was sent on the eve of a May 23rd White House announcement
    nominating Richard Hoagland to serve as the new Ambassador to Armenia.
    Ambassador Evans will be relieved of his duties as soon as Hoagland's Senate
    confirmation process is completed.
    The Administration has recalled Ambassador Evans over his February 2005
    statements at Armenian American community functions, during which he properly
    characterized the Armenian genocide as 'genocide.' Following his statements,
    Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue a statement clarifying that
    his
    references to the Armenian genocide were his personal views and did not
    represent a change in US 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 planned to honor
    Ambassador 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    rescinded the award following pressure from the State Department a few days
    before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Washington, DC
    to meet with President Bush.
    "Ambassador Evans has been recalled for doing nothing more than honoring the
    forsaken pledge of his president," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
    Hamparian. "We want to thank Congressman Markey and his 59 colleagues for
    calling for a clarification and rejecting the Armenian genocide 'gag-rule'
    imposed by the Turkish government and, sadly, enforced by our own State
    Department."
    "Armenian Americans truly regret that the Administration lacks the courage to
    speak honestly about its reasons for firing Ambassador Evans," added
    Hamparian. "We call upon the Senate Foreign Relations Committee--the
    Congressional panel constitutionally charged with oversight of diplomatic
    appointments--to hold a hearing thoroughly examining the reasons behind this
    firing, the role of the Turkish Government, and the broader implications for
    the future of the Foreign Service that a senior American diplomat's career has
    been ended simply for speaking the truth."
    The 60 Members of Congress expressed special concern about the destructive
    precedent of recalling a US diplomat for speaking truthfully on matters of
    historical record. They wrote that, "We must not allow the perception to
    linger that he [Ambassador Evans] is being required to vacate his position
    early for accurately labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide."
    The
    Representatives, noting President Ronald Reagan's references to the Armenian
    genocide, reminded Secretary Rice that Ambassador Evans "did nothing more than
    succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by those before him."
    The Congressional signatories also expressed concern about the role of the
    Government of Turkey in the impending removal of Ambassador Evans from his
    posting. "Were the United States to allow the views or beliefs of a third
    country to interfere with our diplomatic postings to the Republic of Armenia,"
    wrote the House members, "it would establish a dangerous precedent and be
    injurious to the long-standing relationship built on trust and friendship
    between the two countries."
    "I am seriously concerned at the early departure of Ambassador Evans," stated
    Representative Markey. "I hope that this sudden action by the State Department
    is not related to comments made by Ambassador Evans about the Armenian
    genocide. 60 members of Congress have signed on to a letter to Secretary Rice
    asking questions about whether or not Ambassador Evans was forced out of his
    post. I look forward to a response from the State Department."
    On March 8, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian expressed grave disappointment at
    reports that Ambassador Evans would be penalized for speaking the truth about
    the Armenian genocide. In a letter to Secretary Rice, Hachikian wrote that,
    "the prospect that a US envoy's posting--and possibly his career--has been cut
    short due to his honest and accurate description of a genocide is profoundly
    offensive to American values and US standing abroad--particularly in light of
    President Bush's call for moral clarity in the conduct of our international
    affairs."
    Subsequently, several Members of Congress, including Congressional Armenian
    Caucus Co-Chair Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) and
    Representative Grace Napolitano (D-CA) have each called on Secretary Rice
    for a
    clarification of the State Department's position on this issue. The Los
    Angeles Times, in a strongly worded March 22 editorial, made direct reference
    to Ambassador Evans' impending dismissal, calling on the Turkish Government
    and
    US State Department to end their policies of genocide denial.
    Members of Congress joining Representative Markey in cosigning the letter to
    Secretary Rice were: Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Charles Bass
    (R-NH), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA),
    Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Lois Capps (D-CA), Michael Capuano
    (D-MA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Barney
    Frank (D-MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Charlie Gonzalez
    (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Stephanie Herseth (D-SD), Rush Holt (D-NJ),
    Michael Honda (D-CA), Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Joe Knollenberg
    (R-MI), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Nita
    Lowey (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Betty McCollum
    (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA),
    Candice Miller (R-MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Devin
    Nunes (R-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ),
    Collin Peterson (D-MN), George Radanovich (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R-MI), Steven
    Rothman (D-NJ), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA),
    Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), Mark Souder (R-IN), Ted
    Strickland
    (D-OH), John Tierney (D-MA), Mark Udall (D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD),
    Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Anthony
    Weiner (D-NY).
    The full text of the Congressional letter follows:

    Congress of the United States
    Washington, DC 20515

    May 22, 2006

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

    Dear Secretary Rice:

    We are writing to express our concerns regarding recent information
    indicating
    that U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans would be departing early this
    summer
    from his assignment as a result of declaring in February 2005 that `the
    Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century,' during
    public exchanges with Armenian-American communities. It is our hope that
    these
    announcements are inaccurate given Evans' service to his country - in the
    Foreign Service and as a well-respected ambassador - in a region of strategic
    importance to the United States.
    Ambassador Evans issued a `clarification' and then a `correction' of his
    remarks. Last June, the American Foreign Service Association originally
    intended to honor the Ambassador for his `constructive dissent' and
    intellectual courage and initiative with the Christian A. Herter Award as a
    result of his recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but later withdrew the
    distinction.
    It now appears that Evans is being forced out of his post. We must not allow
    the perception to linger that he is being required to vacate his position
    early
    for accurately labeling the cataclysmic events of 1915 as genocide.
    By employing the proper term last year, the Ambassador was only building on
    previous statements by our leaders in government, as well as the repeated
    declarations of numerous world-renowned scholars. In 1981, President Reagan
    issued a presidential proclamation that said in part: `like the genocide of
    the
    Armenians before it, and the genocide of the Cambodians which followed it and
    like too many other persecutions of too many other people the lessons of the
    Holocaust must never be forgotten . . .' In effect, Ambassador Evans did
    nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by those before
    him.
    We have also heard that concerns raised by the Government of Turkey regarding
    Ambassador Evans' remarks may have played a role in this affair. We certainly
    hope that this was not the case. Were the United States to allow the views or
    beliefs of a third country to interfere with our diplomatic postings to the
    Republic of Armenia, it would establish a dangerous precedent and be injurious
    to the long-standing relationship built on trust and friendship between the
    two
    countries. In addition, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried recently
    stated his friendship and support for Evans.
    At this critical time in U.S. history and the South Caucasus region, we
    respectfully request your clarification regarding the current status of
    Ambassador John Evans. It is our hope that that he will not be forced to
    prematurely end his exemplary service to the United States and the Republic of
    Armenia because of his reaffirmation of the U.S. record on the Armenian
    Genocide.
    Sincerely,


    2) Amnesty International Criticizes Turkey for Slowing Reforms

    LONDON (Anadolu/BIA)According to a report released by London-based Amnesty
    International (AI), the pace of reforms being implemented in Turkey has slowed
    down since it started negotiations to join the European Union (EU).
    The report notes that, the attempt at bringing Turkey's laws in line with
    international standards has slowed, while "torture and ill-treatment continue
    to be reported, [and] law enforcement officers continued to use excessive
    force."
    Despite reforms of its Penal Code, Turkey still restricts basic rights and
    individuals expressing peaceful opposition still face prosecution and
    sanctions, reported AI.
    Regarding torture and ill-treatment of detainees, the organization says that
    it continued to receive reports about such practices in 2005. "Those detained
    for ordinary crimes particularly at risk," reads the report.
    In the report, AI also says that security forces continue to use excessive
    force during demonstrations, citing the death of four protestors during a
    demonstration in November as an example. It notes that investigations into
    these kinds of events was insufficient.
    The report also criticizes Turkey's restrictions on freedom of expression,
    such as Article 301, which makes it a punishable crime to insult
    "Turkishness,"
    the state, or its institutions, and is "frequently applied arbitrarily to
    target a wide range of critical opinion."
    The report also mentions the cancellation and postponement of last year's
    conference in Istanbul about the Armenian genocide as another example of
    restriction on freedom of expression.
    AI goes on to detail many more examples of human rights violations in Turkey.
    It says that human rights mechanisms in the country do not work effectively
    and
    that institutions charged with safeguarding these rights do not have the
    sufficient authority to investigate and report on any violations.

    3) International Mediators Urge for Karabagh Peace

    YEREVAN (RFE/RL/Armenpress)--International mediators urged Armenia and
    Azerbaijan on Thursday to take the final step towards a resolution of the
    Karabagh conflict, saying that a framework peace accord is now within their
    reach.
    Diplomats from France, Russia, and the United States made the appeal as they
    wrapped up a joint visit to Baku and Yerevan, which produced agreement on the
    next Armenian-Azeri summit on Karabagh.
    A spokesman for President Robert Kocharian said that the Armenian leader and
    his Azeri counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, will meet on the sidelines of a summit of
    Black Sea nations which is scheduled to take place in Romania's capital
    Bucharest on June 5.
    In a joint statement read out to the media after their talks with Kocharian,
    US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
    Grigory Karasin and a top French diplomat, Pierre Morel, said that "now is the
    time for the sides to reach agreement on the basic principles of a
    settlement." The three men accompanied the American, French, and Russian
    diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group on their latest trip to the
    region.
    The statement said that the Karabagh conflict "can be resolved in no other
    way
    than a peaceful one. Both countries should prepare their publics for peace and
    not for war."
    "A joint mission such as this one is a special event," Fried, Karasin, and
    Morel said in their statement. "It must be taken as a sign of the seriousness
    with which we approach the issue and, in particular, a belief that we are at
    the point where a mutually beneficial agreement is achievable. What happens
    now
    will up be up to Armenia and Azerbaijan."
    The three officials described as "constructive" their meetings with Kocharian
    and Aliyev, which took place on Thursday and Wednesday respectively. But they
    did not divulge any details of the talks.
    The representatives will now return to their capitals and brief their leaders
    about the developments. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will then report the
    results to the OSCE and international community.

    4) Armenian Independence Day Festival to Be Held May 28

    The Armenian Cultural Foundation and Armenian Youth Federation - Western
    Region
    (AYF-WR) have organized a festival celebrating Armenian Independence Day to be
    held on Sunday, May 28, in the heart of Little Armenia.
    This year, Hollywood Blvd. will be blocked off between Vermont and Alexandria
    just for the event. A variety of vendors, diverse entertainers, live
    performers, writers and organizations will be on hand from 10 AM to 6 PM to
    celebrate Armenian culture.
    For more information on the festival, please contact the AYF Western Region
    office at (818) 507-1933 or visit <http://www.ayfwest.org/>www.ayfwest.org.

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