The Armenian Assembly of America commented on President Obama’s nominee to serve as an ambassador to Armenia John A. Heffern.

The Assembly recalls that in the mid-1990s, Heffern worked for former Congressman Doug Bereuter who was consistently one of the most pro-Turkish and anti-Armenian Representatives to serve in Congress.  
 
“Without pre-judging nominee Mr. Heffern personally, he will have a steep hill to climb in explaining and distinguishing his views from those of former Congressman Bereuter.  For example, in 1995-1996, when Heffern was on the Congressman’s International Relations Committee staff, Bereuter voted against several measures aimed to promote not only Armenia’s interests, but human rights interests around the world.

Heffern’s former boss also voted against an amendment to cut $25 million in aid to Turkey, which was proposed in reference to Turkey’s human rights violations and ongoing blockade of Armenia. Further, the Congressman voted against an amendment to cut aid to Turkey until it had “taken all appropriate steps to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide,” reads Assembly’s statement.
 
The Assembly hopes Mr. Heffern can successfully climb that hill and represent America’s views and clear record, not only on the need to squarely recognize the Armenian Genocide and its consequences, but also on addressing Azerbaijan’s aggression against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to ensure peace in the region with open borders, respect for human rights and commitment to democracy.