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SENATE NEEDS TO CONFIRM AMBASSADORS TO TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN
By G. Lincoln McCurdy
The Hill
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/127023-senate-needs-to-confirm-ambassadors-to-turkey-and-azerbajian
Nov 2 2010
DC
Turkey is a significant political and economic actor that has played
a crucial role in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and
Europe in the last decade. The country is a valuable ally to the US and
NATO in maintaining peace and stability as we deal with wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, aggressive rhetoric from Iran, and the omnipresent
threat of international terrorism. It is also home to an incredibly
rich culture, a thriving economy, and a dynamic, young population.
Yet the U.S. Embassy in Ankara has been without a leader since July,
when Ambassador James Jeffrey departed the country to become the new
Ambassador to Iraq. Four months later, there is still no Ambassador
to Turkey, and if recent Senate machinations continue, we may have
no leadership in Ankara until 2011. When Congress returns for the
lame duck session in November, the Senate must resolve this impasse.
This absence comes at a particularly unfortunate time as we deal with
pressing issues that affect not only the US-Turkey partnership, but
also regional peace and stability. The presence of a US Ambassador in
a critical allied country like Turkey, which is undergoing significant
internal changes this year, is indispensable to maintaining a close
dialogue and a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. Leaving
this position unfilled is sending the wrong message to Turkey.
The Administration put forth a strong and qualified candidate in
Ambassador Francis Joseph Ricciardone Jr., who has a resume that
includes service in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey, as well
as serving as head of an anti-terrorism international taskforce at
the State Department. He was nominated on July 1, 2010 and confirmed
by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on August 3.
Ambassador Ricciardone's intimate knowledge of the region and the most
vital foreign and security policy challenges the US faces today, plus
his prior experience as Deputy Chief of Mission in Ankara, would make
him a highly effective US emissary. Yet, while his detractors have
never presented a strong case against his qualifications, Senator
Sam Brownback (R-KS) has held up his nomination since August, with
no sign of change on the horizon.
Similar Senate action leaves us also dangerously underrepresented
in Azerbaijan, where we have not had an ambassador for more than
15 months. A major energy producer and friend of the United States
in a strategic neighborhood, this Muslim-majority Turkic nation was
recently praised by President Obama for its support for the US mission
in Afghanistan and the fight against international terrorism. However
the President's nomination of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matthew Bryza for the ambassadorial post is stalled in the Senate,
although the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmed Bryza on
September 21.
Two Senators, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), blocked
this highly qualified diplomat by echoing the contrived objections of
the Armenian National Committee of America, which the Washington Post
called a "particularly noxious lobby" that opposes the nominations of
Bryza and Ambassador Ricciardone. The Post called out both senators for
pursuing "craven election-year pandering at the expense of the national
interest," and warned that their actions "risked US interests."
When the Senate reconvenes for the post-election lame duck session in
early November, it should heed the words of the Wall Street Journal,
which declared that "Mr. Ricciardone deserves an up-or-down vote on
the floor, as do other nominees . the Senate's confirmation powers
aren't supposed to be an excuse to indulge the pet causes of individual
members." I believe that, given the chance, a large majority of the
Senate will support these qualified public servants.
Unless the Senate acts, or at the minimum demand that the
Administration nominate new candidates immediately, it will be months
before the US is properly represented in the capitals of Turkey and
Azerbaijan. The Wall Street Journal is correct when it notes that,
"Azerbaijan and Turkey are important American allies in a tough
neighborhood, and the U.S. needs good ambassadors there."
We cannot afford to squander the lame duck session in November. Our
foreign policy in a critical region is hobbled so long as the Senate
sits on its hands and leaves vacant ambassadors' offices at the US
Embassies in Ankara and Baku.
G. Lincoln McCurdy is the president of the Turkish Coalition of America
(TCA), an educational charitable organization based in Washington, DC.
TCA's primary objective is to educate the general public and other
interested parties. McCurdy is a former diplomat who served as
U.S. commercial attache in Turkey.
From: A. Papazian
By G. Lincoln McCurdy
The Hill
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/127023-senate-needs-to-confirm-ambassadors-to-turkey-and-azerbajian
Nov 2 2010
DC
Turkey is a significant political and economic actor that has played
a crucial role in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia and
Europe in the last decade. The country is a valuable ally to the US and
NATO in maintaining peace and stability as we deal with wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, aggressive rhetoric from Iran, and the omnipresent
threat of international terrorism. It is also home to an incredibly
rich culture, a thriving economy, and a dynamic, young population.
Yet the U.S. Embassy in Ankara has been without a leader since July,
when Ambassador James Jeffrey departed the country to become the new
Ambassador to Iraq. Four months later, there is still no Ambassador
to Turkey, and if recent Senate machinations continue, we may have
no leadership in Ankara until 2011. When Congress returns for the
lame duck session in November, the Senate must resolve this impasse.
This absence comes at a particularly unfortunate time as we deal with
pressing issues that affect not only the US-Turkey partnership, but
also regional peace and stability. The presence of a US Ambassador in
a critical allied country like Turkey, which is undergoing significant
internal changes this year, is indispensable to maintaining a close
dialogue and a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. Leaving
this position unfilled is sending the wrong message to Turkey.
The Administration put forth a strong and qualified candidate in
Ambassador Francis Joseph Ricciardone Jr., who has a resume that
includes service in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey, as well
as serving as head of an anti-terrorism international taskforce at
the State Department. He was nominated on July 1, 2010 and confirmed
by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on August 3.
Ambassador Ricciardone's intimate knowledge of the region and the most
vital foreign and security policy challenges the US faces today, plus
his prior experience as Deputy Chief of Mission in Ankara, would make
him a highly effective US emissary. Yet, while his detractors have
never presented a strong case against his qualifications, Senator
Sam Brownback (R-KS) has held up his nomination since August, with
no sign of change on the horizon.
Similar Senate action leaves us also dangerously underrepresented
in Azerbaijan, where we have not had an ambassador for more than
15 months. A major energy producer and friend of the United States
in a strategic neighborhood, this Muslim-majority Turkic nation was
recently praised by President Obama for its support for the US mission
in Afghanistan and the fight against international terrorism. However
the President's nomination of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matthew Bryza for the ambassadorial post is stalled in the Senate,
although the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmed Bryza on
September 21.
Two Senators, Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), blocked
this highly qualified diplomat by echoing the contrived objections of
the Armenian National Committee of America, which the Washington Post
called a "particularly noxious lobby" that opposes the nominations of
Bryza and Ambassador Ricciardone. The Post called out both senators for
pursuing "craven election-year pandering at the expense of the national
interest," and warned that their actions "risked US interests."
When the Senate reconvenes for the post-election lame duck session in
early November, it should heed the words of the Wall Street Journal,
which declared that "Mr. Ricciardone deserves an up-or-down vote on
the floor, as do other nominees . the Senate's confirmation powers
aren't supposed to be an excuse to indulge the pet causes of individual
members." I believe that, given the chance, a large majority of the
Senate will support these qualified public servants.
Unless the Senate acts, or at the minimum demand that the
Administration nominate new candidates immediately, it will be months
before the US is properly represented in the capitals of Turkey and
Azerbaijan. The Wall Street Journal is correct when it notes that,
"Azerbaijan and Turkey are important American allies in a tough
neighborhood, and the U.S. needs good ambassadors there."
We cannot afford to squander the lame duck session in November. Our
foreign policy in a critical region is hobbled so long as the Senate
sits on its hands and leaves vacant ambassadors' offices at the US
Embassies in Ankara and Baku.
G. Lincoln McCurdy is the president of the Turkish Coalition of America
(TCA), an educational charitable organization based in Washington, DC.
TCA's primary objective is to educate the general public and other
interested parties. McCurdy is a former diplomat who served as
U.S. commercial attache in Turkey.
From: A. Papazian