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Nominee for US ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone wins contested vote within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

14 September 2011 07:30 (UTC +04:00)

Washington. Isabel Levine â€“ APA. Despite of the influential Armenian Diaspora organizations have intensified their campaign against the nominee for the US ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone during the recent months, he won a contested vote within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over whether he should serve as America’s top envoy to Ankara, on September 13, APAâ€™s Washington DC correspondent reports.

President Obama bypassed the Senate in December 2010 to appoint Ricciardone to Turkey for one year.
But now, Ricciardone is aloes to serve by Senate confirmation until the end of his mission as other US ambassadors. Now, his nomination is set to go to the full Senate for confirmation.

Ricciardone has become a target for the Armenian lobby for his remarks suggesting that most of the Christian churches in Turkey functioning prior to 1915 are still operating as churches.

Only three pro-Armenian Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Jim Risch (R-ID) voted against the Ricciardone nomination at todayâ€™s business meeting, which was chaired by
John Kerry (D-MA).

In the meanwhile, US Ambassador to Armenia nominee John Heffern was approved unanimously by the Committee by voice vote.

Some leaders of Armenian Diaspora in the US have expressed their regret regarding Ricciardoneâ€™s conformation.