The daily reports that the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs will discuss the appointment of Francis Joseph Ricciardione as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey on July 20. Earlier, he was nominated by President Barack Obama. In case his nomination is approved by the committee and the U.S. Senate he will replace James Jeffrey.

“The point is not the replacement of the Ambassador but AAA’s (Armenian Assembly of America) initiative. Yesterday Cumhuriyet newspaper noted that AAA warned President Obama that in case Ricciardione is appointed he should pressurize Turkey on the Genocide recognition.

According to the Turkish daily, AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said, “We hope a new U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Joseph Ricciardione will urge Turkey to end its campaign of denial and come to terms with its genocidal legacy. We expect the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey to press for an end of the nearly two-decade blockade of Armenia and to ensure that Turkey fulfill its international commitment to normalize relations with Armenia without preconditions.”

The reasons for Ardouny’s concern are clear. However, he should realize that before Ricciardione presses Turkey, the Congress should first approve Genocide resolution which must be ratified by the President. Thus, before instructing Ricciardione, Barack Obama should say the word ‘genocide’ himself. Otherwise, pressure exerted on Turkey by Ricciardione will hardly pursue the goal,” the newspaper writes.