The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider President Obama’s nomination of John Heffern to serve as Ambassador to Armenia during a hearing on July 13.

The hearing will be webcast live on the panel’s website, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

“We encourage all the members of the Foreign Relations Committee to be on hand next Wednesday to question Ambassador-Designate Heffern about his qualifications and candidacy for this important diplomatic posting,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“We are hopeful that Senators will also take full advantage of the opportunity afforded by this hearing to seek clarification regarding the Obama Administration’s position on a range of foreign policy issues related to the Caucasus region.  Among these, of course, are a truthful and just resolution of the Armenian Genocide; a free and fair settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh based on democracy and self-determination, and; the promotion of U.S.-Armenia economic relations through targeted programs and bilateral agreements to increase trade and investment,” he said.

If approved by the Senate, Heffern will replace Marie Yovanovitch, who has returned from Yerevan to serve as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Northern and Central Europe.