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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, went to the House floor last night to assail the Bush administration for its announcement earlier in the day of a replacement for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans. The New Jersey congressman voiced concern that the Turkish government may have played a role in Evans' removal. Following, is the text of Pallone's floor speech.
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the White House has finally made an announcement of what many of us already knew: Ambassador John Evans is officially being replaced as United States Ambassador to Armenia.
"Ambassador Evans has given exemplary service to his country and was a well-respected ambassador in a region of strategic importance to the United States. However, as it turns out, Evans was forced to vacate his post for publicly affirming the Armenian Genocide.
"Reports highly suggest that because Evans declared that "the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century" he is being unjustly penalized for speaking the truth. However, 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. Ambassador Evans did nothing more than succinctly repeat the conclusions enunciated by many before him.
"Mr. Speaker, it is my fear that the Government of Turkey may have played a role in this unfortunate event. I strongly believe they have expressed concern to the White House over Evans' remarks last year. In fact, immediately following his remarks, Evan issued a "correction," all too seemingly at the behest of the Administration. We must not allow a third party to interfere in US diplomacy and refrain from declaring the truth in order to promote relations with Turkey.
"To this day, the Republic of Turkey refuses to acknowledge the fact that this massive crime against humanity took place under its control, in the name of Turkish nationalism. Unfortunately, some 90 years later, the US State Department continues to support Turkey's denials despite all evidence to the contrary.
"It is unacceptable for this Administration to penalize Evans for his comments. What he did was courageous and should be viewed as such, not punished. Ambassador Evans simply articulated the same message as that of the Administration; however, the only difference was his assigning a word to define the actions taken against Armenians.
"Ambassador Evans is in fact an expert on the subject. He has studied the history of Armenia, and based on his substantial studies, he was willing to go on the record and define the systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children as genocide.
"Mr. Speaker, in early March, I wrote a letter to the State Department because I was outraged to see that Ambassador Evans was withdrawn from Armenia. Based on news reports, the State Department recalled the Ambassador as retaliation for his statements.
"Over two months have passed since I expressed my disappointment and I have yet to receive a response from the State Department. I specifically asked Secretary Rice for an explanation as to why Ambassador Evans was removed from his post. Not only was my inquiry ignored, but other Members' inquires have also gone un-answered. Now, the White House has made an "official" announcement but still has not given an explanation.
"Mr. Speaker, I hope that the newly-appointed US Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Hoagland, will not play the word games of the White House, and comply with Turkey's campaign of genocidal denial.
"The New York Times editorial on May 16th this year detailed the dangers to Turkey, and to the world, of that country's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide. I just want to read the last paragraph of that insightful editorial ... 'The preponderance of serious scholarship outside Turkey accepts that more than a million Armenians perished between 1914 and 1925 in a regime-sponsored campaign. Turkey's continued refusal to countenance even a discussion of the issue stands as a major obstacle to restoring relations with neighboring Armenia and to claiming Turkey's rightful place in Europe and the West. It is time for the Turks to realize that the greater danger to them is denying history.'
"Thank you." |
