During August 2 confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) asked Ambassador-Designate to Armenia Francis J. Ricciardone a series of questions regarding U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

Ambassador-Designate Francis J. Ricciardone, is the Administration's nominee to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey and has been serving in Ankara since January on the basis of a recess appointment by President Obama. When asked by Senator Menendez if the United States have ever denied the Armenian Genocide, Ricciardone responded that he stands behind President Obama's characterization and used the Armenian term: Meds Yeghern.

"As Senator Menendez has repeatedly indicated, affirmation of the Armenian Genocide is critical to our diplomatic relations with Armenia and Turkey," stated Assembly Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian. "We strongly concur with Senator Menendez that if you cannot recognize the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide, then you cannot move forward," added Koushakjian.

Senator Menendez also asked if Ricciardone disagreed with President Barack Obama's position on the Armenian Genocide during Obama's tenure as a Senator, as well as that of Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, during their tenures as Senators. In each instance, Ricciardone indicated that he did not disagree with his superiors. "On behalf of the Armenian Assembly's 2011 Terjenian-Thomas Internship Class, we express our sincere appreciation to Senator Menendez for his continued leadership on Armenian issues," stated Raffi Nersessian, Assembly Government Affairs intern who attended today's hearing.

Ricciardone also fielded questions about religious freedom, especially in relation to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Halki Seminary, as well as with respect to the Armenian, Assyrian, and Jewish communities.

Senate Foreign Relations Europe Subcommittee Chair Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) presided over today's hearing and was joined by Ranking Member Richard Lugar (R-IN), along with Senators Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) who was on hand to introduce one of the nominees. Additional questions for the record will be submitted for response by the nominees and will be reviewed before the Committee acts on the nomination. The next opportunity for consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be in September.