Joseph Pennington: new Ambassador in Armenia can be appointed soon

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The U.S. Ambassador to Armenia will be appointed and I think it will happen soon," U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Armenia Joseph Pennington told a news conference in Yerevan.



"Washington attaches importance to Armenia and wants its diplomatic mission to function in corpore."



"Everything depends on the White House and Senate, which propose and approve the designate respectively. The Armenian government has nothing to do with the procedure," he said adding that the appointment of the new Ambassador will make him 'the happiest man in the Embassy'.



Former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was recalled over his public mention of the Armenian Genocide.



Later, Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey placed a legislative hold on genocide denier Richard Hoagland's nomination to serve as America's next Ambassador to Armenia.