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US SENATORS MAKE BRYZA ANSWER A FEW UNPLEASANT QUESTIONS
Tert.am
23.07.10
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert
Menendez (D-NJ) raised key policy issues during Senate Foreign
Relations Committee's July 22 hearing of Ambassador-Designate Matthew
Bryza reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
During the hearing, most if not all of the concerns raised in the
Assembly's May 27th letter to Committee Members were raised. Presiding
over the hearing, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) began her round of
questions by asking nominee Bryza to respond to her constituents'
concerns, including accusations regarding his close ties to senior
Azerbaijani officials. Bryza indicated that he maintains professional
relationships with not only Azeri officials, but also with those in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Bryza also assured the Committee that
his wedding was not funded by outside sources. Senator Shaheen then
raised concerns regarding freedom of the press in Azerbaijan and the
case of the two jailed bloggers. Bryza indicated that if confirmed,
civil liberties, especially media freedom, would be a top priority.
Senator Boxer lead the charge on a series of key issues, which were
included in the Assembly's Fact Sheet on Azerbaijan that was provided
to Committee Members prior to the hearing, including: Azerbaijan's war
rhetoric and military escalation; the June 18th Azeri attack resulting
in the death of four Armenian soldiers; the importance of Section 907
of the Freedom Support Act; and the destruction of a centuries-old
Armenian cemetery in Julfa by Azerbaijani soldiers. Boxer pressed
Bryza for answers and in several instances did not feel that Bryza
answered her questions directly, including her questions regarding
the need for Section 907. Senator Boxer also urged condemnation of
Azerbaijan 's war mongering in the strongest of terms.
Bryza stated that "there is no military solution" to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and reaffirmed US policy in support of the three
equal pillars of the Helsinki Final Act: non-use of force or the
threat of force, the principle of territorial integrity, and equal
rights and self determination of peoples.
Senator Menendez asked nominee Bryza if he had played any role in
the firing of former Ambassador to Armenia , John Evans, of which
Bryza indicated that he played "absolutely no role." Menendez also
raised concerns about Azerbaijan 's desecration of an ancient Armenian
cemetery in Julfa. Bryza reiterated the points he made in response to
Senator Boxer in that he immediately contacted the Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan and also publicly condemned the act. However, Menendez
pressed Bryza on why it took three months to issue a statement,
and asked Bryza to provide all public statements made for the record.
Menendez also took on Azerbaijan 's continued threats of war and actual
provocation in June and pointed out that this is contrary to seeking
peace and reconciliation. In responding to Senator Menendez' questions
in this regard, Bryza indicated that he "couldn't agree more."
Senator Menendez also asked the nominee to clarify his comments with
respect to the principles of self-determination and territorial
integrity. Bryza again emphasized that all 3 principles of the
Helsinki Final Act are given equal weight and that the US seeks to
facilitate a mutually negotiated settlement among the parties to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on these principles. Bryza also
indicated, in response to Senator Menendez' questions, that any final
solution must involve the people of Nagorno Karabakh. In fact, Bryza
specifically stated that "it's impossible to reach a mutually agreed
settlement that includes the views of the people who are the subject
of the settlement, the residents of Nagorno Karabakh, if their views
are not taken into account."
"I also look forward, if confirmed, to helping advance a peaceful
Nagorno Karabakh settlement. There can be no military solution to
this long-standing conflict; rather, negotiation and dialogue hold
the key to resolving this issue and bringing peace and stability to
the Caucasus region. I am proud of the vibrant partnership my Russian
and French counterparts and I developed as Co-Chairs of the OSCE's
Minsk Group and the work we did together to try and bring Azerbaijan
and Armenia closer to a negotiated solution based on the principles
contained in the Helsinki Final Act, specifically those related to
refraining from the threat or use of force, the territorial integrity
of States, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples,"
said Bryza.
From: A. Papazian
Tert.am
23.07.10
US Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert
Menendez (D-NJ) raised key policy issues during Senate Foreign
Relations Committee's July 22 hearing of Ambassador-Designate Matthew
Bryza reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
During the hearing, most if not all of the concerns raised in the
Assembly's May 27th letter to Committee Members were raised. Presiding
over the hearing, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) began her round of
questions by asking nominee Bryza to respond to her constituents'
concerns, including accusations regarding his close ties to senior
Azerbaijani officials. Bryza indicated that he maintains professional
relationships with not only Azeri officials, but also with those in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Bryza also assured the Committee that
his wedding was not funded by outside sources. Senator Shaheen then
raised concerns regarding freedom of the press in Azerbaijan and the
case of the two jailed bloggers. Bryza indicated that if confirmed,
civil liberties, especially media freedom, would be a top priority.
Senator Boxer lead the charge on a series of key issues, which were
included in the Assembly's Fact Sheet on Azerbaijan that was provided
to Committee Members prior to the hearing, including: Azerbaijan's war
rhetoric and military escalation; the June 18th Azeri attack resulting
in the death of four Armenian soldiers; the importance of Section 907
of the Freedom Support Act; and the destruction of a centuries-old
Armenian cemetery in Julfa by Azerbaijani soldiers. Boxer pressed
Bryza for answers and in several instances did not feel that Bryza
answered her questions directly, including her questions regarding
the need for Section 907. Senator Boxer also urged condemnation of
Azerbaijan 's war mongering in the strongest of terms.
Bryza stated that "there is no military solution" to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and reaffirmed US policy in support of the three
equal pillars of the Helsinki Final Act: non-use of force or the
threat of force, the principle of territorial integrity, and equal
rights and self determination of peoples.
Senator Menendez asked nominee Bryza if he had played any role in
the firing of former Ambassador to Armenia , John Evans, of which
Bryza indicated that he played "absolutely no role." Menendez also
raised concerns about Azerbaijan 's desecration of an ancient Armenian
cemetery in Julfa. Bryza reiterated the points he made in response to
Senator Boxer in that he immediately contacted the Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan and also publicly condemned the act. However, Menendez
pressed Bryza on why it took three months to issue a statement,
and asked Bryza to provide all public statements made for the record.
Menendez also took on Azerbaijan 's continued threats of war and actual
provocation in June and pointed out that this is contrary to seeking
peace and reconciliation. In responding to Senator Menendez' questions
in this regard, Bryza indicated that he "couldn't agree more."
Senator Menendez also asked the nominee to clarify his comments with
respect to the principles of self-determination and territorial
integrity. Bryza again emphasized that all 3 principles of the
Helsinki Final Act are given equal weight and that the US seeks to
facilitate a mutually negotiated settlement among the parties to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on these principles. Bryza also
indicated, in response to Senator Menendez' questions, that any final
solution must involve the people of Nagorno Karabakh. In fact, Bryza
specifically stated that "it's impossible to reach a mutually agreed
settlement that includes the views of the people who are the subject
of the settlement, the residents of Nagorno Karabakh, if their views
are not taken into account."
"I also look forward, if confirmed, to helping advance a peaceful
Nagorno Karabakh settlement. There can be no military solution to
this long-standing conflict; rather, negotiation and dialogue hold
the key to resolving this issue and bringing peace and stability to
the Caucasus region. I am proud of the vibrant partnership my Russian
and French counterparts and I developed as Co-Chairs of the OSCE's
Minsk Group and the work we did together to try and bring Azerbaijan
and Armenia closer to a negotiated solution based on the principles
contained in the Helsinki Final Act, specifically those related to
refraining from the threat or use of force, the territorial integrity
of States, and the equal rights and self-determination of peoples,"
said Bryza.
From: A. Papazian