President Obama’s controversial nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Francis Ricciardone, won a contested vote within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee over whether he should serve as America’s top envoy to Ankara, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

By contrast, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee John Heffern was approved unanimously by the Committee by voice vote.

Voting against the Ricciardone nomination were Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Jim Risch (R-ID).

“We would like to thank Senator Menendez for his principled leadership in calling attention to Amb. Ricciardone’s offensive and unacceptable responses to questions dealing with the plight of Christians in Turkey,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“Sen. Menendez along with Senators Boxer and Risch sent a powerful message to Mr. Ricciardone and State Department officials - that the American people deserve a U.S. envoy who will fight hard for U.S. values and interests - not succumb to Turkey’s propaganda machine,” he added.