US-Armenian Community to Back John Heffern in Case No Unpleasant Surprises Available in His Responses

YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS:

The Armenian community to US will back the candidacy of John Heffern, President Obama's nominee as US Ambassador to Armenia, in case there are no "unpleasant surprises" in his responses to the written queries by senators, according to Harut Sassounian, editor-in-chief of California Courier newspaper.

The Senate will most probably discuss the ambassador's responses in September. "We know that the ambassador may not determine the US state policy on the Armenian Genocide, as it is the competence of the president, therefore we understand why he does not use the term of "genocide". Nonetheless, in case additional statements, casting doubt on the fact of the Armenian Genocide, will be available in his answers, we will be against and some additional impediments will be caused for the approval of his candidacy," Harut Sassounian said.

He says John Heffern has not cooperated with Turkish lobby organizations, yet he was an assistant to a US senator, whose activity was anti-Armenian. However "this fact should not impact on Heffern's stance."

Harut Sassounian reminded that former Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch did not utter the word "Armenian Genocide". "We do not expect that the new US ambassador will use words that contradict the US state policy, we just expect him not to deny the fact of the Genocide," Harut Sassounian said.