Epress.am News from Armenia
The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations late Tuesday unanimously voted for John Heffern’s nomination as US Ambassador to Armenia, reports RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun).
Heffern has been working in the US foreign policy sector for the good part of 30 years and is deputy permanent representative in the US Mission to NATO.
On the same day, the foreign relations committee also confirmed the nomination of Francis Ricciardone as US Ambassador to Turkey — though three lawmakers, Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and James (Jim) Risch (R-ID) voted against his nomination.
The senators particularly criticized an earlier statement made by Ricciardone on Christian churches in Turkey. He said that most of the 2,000 churches functioning in Turkey before 1915 continue to operate today.
“This answer is as wrong as it is insulting,” said Robert Menendez on Tuesday evening. “It shows that Ricciardone does not have enough of an interest in the problems of the Armenian community in Turkey or really doesn’t know the difficulties Christian churches face in this country.”
Ricciardone was criticized on this issue also by several other senators who, however, in the end expressed support for his candidacy, citing his experience and knowledge.
After being approved by the Committee on Foreign Relations, the two ambassadors’ nomination must also be approved at the Senate’s plenary session, only after which the ambassadors will be able to take up their posts in Armenia and Turkey.