John M. Evans, former United States Ambassador to Armenia, will discuss his new book Truth Held Hostage: America and the Armenian Genocide — What Then? What Now?” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 25, at Fresno State.

Presented by the Armenian Studies Program, the free, public talk will be at the Leon S. and Pete P. Peters Educational Center in the Student Recreation Center (5010 N. Woodrow Ave. at Shaw).

Evans, who recognized the Armenian Genocide while ambassador, was dismissed from his post by the State Department, said Dr. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Armenian Studies Program director at Fresno State.

“In his talk, an unrepentant Evans will discuss his new memoir, which gives a blow-by-blow account of his understanding of the Armenian issue, why he criticized United States policy in 2006 and why he still thinks the State Department should change its position on the Armenian Genocide,” Der Mugrdechian said.

“His new book promises to reframe the Armenian Genocide debate in the United States and has already been praised as the most important work about the Armenian Genocide by a U.S. diplomat since Henry Morgenthau’s groundbreaking ‘Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story’ in 1918, a compelling, page-turning read, and an even-handed account of a matter of international importance,” he added.

Der Mugrdechian said Evans first broke with the State Department on the Armenian Genocide issue in Fresno and “it is fitting that he will be back to update us on developments — and his thoughts about the future.”

Copies of the “Truth Held Hostage: America and the Armenian Genocide—What Then? What Now?” (London: Gomidas Institute, $32) will be available. It includes a foreword by Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, chair emeritus of Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State.

A companion volume by Evans will also be available, “Therefore, God Must be Armenian! Sixteen Talks Given on the Armenian Issue” (Gomidas Institute, $12).

Free parking is available in any of the adjacent Fresno State parking lots (near the corner of Shaw and Woodrow Avenues).

For more information about the presentation, contact the Armenian Studies Program at 559.278.2669, or visit the website www.fresnostate.edu/armenianstudies.