January 31, 2005 U.S. Ambassador To Armenia To Speak on Feb. 22

Press Contact: Audrey Fischer (202) 707-0022
Public Contact: Levon Avdoyan (202) 707-5680

John M. Evans, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, will deliver a "Report from Armenia, 2004" at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, in the West Dining Room, sixth floor of the James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event, which is free and open to the public, is part of the Armenian Seminar series, sponsored by the Near East Section of the Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division.

Ambassador Evans will discuss the situation in Armenia since he assumed his position in 2004. His report will also cover the contemporary Armenian scene, U.S. Armenian relations and USAID-funded programs and initiatives in Armenia. Evans will be accompanied by Robin Philips, director of the U.S. Agency for International Development/Armenia (USAID/Armenia). A question-and-answer period will follow the discussion.

Born in Williamsburg, Va., Evans studied history at Yale University and Columbia University before entering the foreign service. He has served in Tehran (1972-1974), Prague (1975-1978), in the Executive Secretariat and Office of the Secretary of State (1978-1980), in Moscow (1981-1983), at the U.S. Mission to NATO (1983-1986) and as deputy director of the Soviet desk (1986-1989). His role in coordinating the American response to the Armenian earthquake of 1988 earned him a medal and statement of appreciation from the Armenian government.

From 1991 to 1994, Evans served as deputy chief of mission in Prague and as Consul General in St. Petersburg from 1994 to 1997. Subsequently, he led the Organization for Security and Co?operation in Europe mission to Moldova before returning to Washington in 1999 as director of the State Department’s Office of Analysis for Russia and Eurasia. He directed the State Department’s Office of Russian Affairs from 2002 until his appointment as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia in August 2004.

Philips, a senior Foreign Service officer, has been affiliated with USAID since 1984. As USAID/Armenia’s director, Philips directs a $50 million program whose aim is to work in partnership with Armenians for a prosperous and stable country that offers equal opportunity to all its citizens.

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PR 05-017
2005-02-01
ISSN 0731-3527