Sooner Congress adopts Genocide Resolution, easier would be confirmation of next US envoy to Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Having successfully lobbied to block the administration's nominee as envoy to Armenia, the Armenian-American community has become more self-confident in fighting for its rights at the highest levels of the U.S. government. All those Armenian-Americans who were reluctant to join in this effort, thinking that 'you can't fight City Hall', should now be convinced that the community can win such battles, just as it won against TIME magazine, PBS, and the Los Angeles Times," editor-in-chief of The California Courier Harout Sassounian says.



He expresses hope that the administration's next nominee as envoy to Armenia would be better briefed and told to give more thoughtful answers to the Senators' questions on the Armenian Genocide. Last week Sen. Robert Menendez said if the White House does not become more accommodating on this issue he may exercise his right of placing a hold once again, the Associated Press reports. "The ideal solution to the administration's dilemma would be to allow an early vote in the House and Senate on the pending resolutions on the Armenian Genocide. Once these resolutions are approved by Congress, the next nominee would have no problem acknowledging the Armenian Genocide during his or her Senate confirmation hearings. The sooner H. Res. 106 is adopted, the easier would be the confirmation process of the next nominee," H. Sassounian says in his article.



On August 3 the White House withdrew Richard Hoagland's candidacy as US Ambassador to Armenia after New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez twice placed a hold on his nomination, since R. Hoagland did not recognize events of 1915 as genocide during his confirmation hearings before the Senate.