Douglas (Doug) Frantz, well-known Armenian Genocide denier and former editor-in-chief of The Los Angeles Times, is appointed Press Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, reports Nouvelles d’Arménie monthly of France.

The monthly writes that Frantz, who was fired from The Los Angeles Times for disallowing the publication of journalist Mark Arax’s article on the Armenian Genocide, has long-standing ties with Turkey. 

Frantz worked in Istanbul for several years; first, as Istanbul bureau chief for the New York Times, and subsequently as investigative journalist for The Los Angeles Times.    

He has established ties with numerous Turkish officials, including Turkey’s Consul General in Los Angeles.

In addition, Doug Frantz had traveled to Istanbul in May 2007, to attend a roundtable discussion.