US State Department Denies Turkey Linked to Recall of Evans

PanARMENIAN.Net - The US State Department denies that Turkey communicated with them in any fashion regarding US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. This denial is simply not credible given Turkey's past conduct, Hamparian said.



It should be reminded that during a meeting with San Francisco Armenian community February 19, 2005 J. Evans said, "recognition of the Armenian Genocide is important." "Today I will call it Armenian Genocide," Evans stated. US Administration and officials are used to avoiding the term "genocide". "No US official ever denied this fact - I believe playing with words in this case would not suit Americans," Evans said. "I believe things should be called their proper names, however US official policy has not changed yet, as ties with Turkey are available within the NATO, especially in the military field." "The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide in the 20th century. I assure you that we are going to work well over this problem," John Evans added.



Later on, when delivering a speech at the US Embassy in Armenia February 28, 2005, John Evans wished to clarify his statement, made February 19, reports IA Regnum. "I want to explain the US policy. The definitions on the tragedy of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey and future status of Nagorno Karabakh that I assumed during an unofficial meeting with the US Armenian community can give cause for misunderstanding." "In spite I noted that the US policy towards the Armenian tragedy did not change, I used the word "genocide", which reflected my personal point of view - that of John Evans and not a politician. However, it was inappropriate," the Ambassador stated.