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SENATORS BOXER AND MENENDEZ PLACE "HOLD" ON BRYZA NOMINATION
armradio.am
23.09.2010 12:04
Both Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have
jointly placed a "hold" on U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan nominee
Matthew Bryza, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
The Senators' decision followed a Senate Foreign Relations Committee
voice vote yesterday approving his nomination, despite serious
concerns regarding the Ambassador-designate's unusually close ties
to Azerbaijani government officials, his troubling track record as
a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus, and persistent conflict
of interest issues related to the Caspian energy industry. Senators
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Boxer both spoke and voted against the
Bryza nomination.
"Thanks to Senators Boxer & Menendez, U.S. diplomacy dodged a bullet
today," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "It
would have been a serious mistake - both for U.S. strategic interests
and for hopes of lasting peace in the Caucasus - to have sent Matt
Bryza to Baku amid escalating threats of renewed war by Azerbaijan's
leaders. Given his track record, he clearly would have been the wrong
diplomat, at the wrong time, in exactly the wrong post. We are deeply
grateful to Senators Boxer and Menendez for preventing this grave
diplomatic misstep."
Hamparian added, "Our nation's important diplomatic work in Azerbaijan
can now get off to a fresh start, one without the bias and baggage that
Matt Bryza would have brought to this pivotal position. Our hope now
is that the President will nominate a new candidate who will openly
stand up to Azerbaijan's aggression and forcefully deter its march
toward renewed war against Nagorno Karabakh."
The hold by Senators Boxer and Menendez prevents fast-tracked Senate
consideration of the Bryza nomination, effectively blocking his
confirmation for this ambassadorial post. Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) took a similar action in 2006, preventing the appointment of
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland, who denied the
Armenian Genocide during his Senate confirmation process.
From: A. Papazian
armradio.am
23.09.2010 12:04
Both Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have
jointly placed a "hold" on U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan nominee
Matthew Bryza, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
The Senators' decision followed a Senate Foreign Relations Committee
voice vote yesterday approving his nomination, despite serious
concerns regarding the Ambassador-designate's unusually close ties
to Azerbaijani government officials, his troubling track record as
a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus, and persistent conflict
of interest issues related to the Caspian energy industry. Senators
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Boxer both spoke and voted against the
Bryza nomination.
"Thanks to Senators Boxer & Menendez, U.S. diplomacy dodged a bullet
today," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "It
would have been a serious mistake - both for U.S. strategic interests
and for hopes of lasting peace in the Caucasus - to have sent Matt
Bryza to Baku amid escalating threats of renewed war by Azerbaijan's
leaders. Given his track record, he clearly would have been the wrong
diplomat, at the wrong time, in exactly the wrong post. We are deeply
grateful to Senators Boxer and Menendez for preventing this grave
diplomatic misstep."
Hamparian added, "Our nation's important diplomatic work in Azerbaijan
can now get off to a fresh start, one without the bias and baggage that
Matt Bryza would have brought to this pivotal position. Our hope now
is that the President will nominate a new candidate who will openly
stand up to Azerbaijan's aggression and forcefully deter its march
toward renewed war against Nagorno Karabakh."
The hold by Senators Boxer and Menendez prevents fast-tracked Senate
consideration of the Bryza nomination, effectively blocking his
confirmation for this ambassadorial post. Senator Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) took a similar action in 2006, preventing the appointment of
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland, who denied the
Armenian Genocide during his Senate confirmation process.
From: A. Papazian