( Panarmenian ) - U.S. Charge d'Affaires Rudolph Perina will not head the U.S. mission to Armenia. "The nomination is announced by the President and then should be approved by the Senate. The issue is being discussed. However, I am not aware when and who will be nominated. One thing I can say for sure: it won't be me," Mr Perina told reporters September 24, IA Regnum reports.
On August 3, following a year of Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) led Armenian American community opposition to the controversial appointment of an Armenian Genocide denier as U.S. envoy to Yerevan, the White House announced the withdrawal of the nomination of Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
The appointment was twice blocked by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ). A genocide denier must never represent the U.S. in Armenia, according to him.