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The Washington Times
December 31, 2010 Friday
Embassy Row
By James Morrison THE WASHINGTON TIMES
AMBASSADOR BRYZA
Matthew Bryza's supporters cheered this week when President Obama
ignored Senate opposition and appointed the career diplomat to serve
as U.S. ambassador to the Central Asian nation of Azerbaijan. They
also accused two senators who had blocked his nomination of abusing
their power.
The appointment is a "triumph of U.S. national interests and security
over the special interest of two senators and one ethnic community,"
the board of directors of the U.S. Azeris Network said in a statement,
adding that the board "wholeheartedly congratulates" Mr. Bryza.
The board, which represents Americans of Azerbaijani heritage, claimed
Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, and Sen. Robert Menendez, New
Jersey Democrat, bowed to political pressure from Armenian-Americans,
who opposed Mr. Bryza's appointment.
Mrs. Boxer and Mr. Menendez blocked the Senate from voting on his
nomination, so Mr. Obama appointed Mr. Bryza after Congress adjourned.
Any senator can place a "hold" on a presidential appointment that
requires Senate consent.
Mr. Bryza's tenure as ambassador is only temporary because the
Constitution requires the Senate to review recess appointments by the
end of the next calendar year. That means one of the most
controversial diplomatic nominations of the Obama administration
is likely to be re-fought before Dec. 31, 2011.
The U.S. Azeris Network said Mrs. Boxer and Mr. Menendez "abused their
powers by virtually interrogating Mr. Bryza about everything from the
birthplace of his wife to his finances and wedding gifts."
It accused the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the
Armenian Assembly of America of "intense lobbying and hysteria" in
their opposition to Mr. Bryza.
Mrs. Boxer and Mr. Menendez had expressed their concerns for issues
raised by Armenian-Americans when they sharply questioned Mr. Bryza at
a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in September.
They shared Armenian-American criticism that Mr. Bryza was too close
to Azeri and Turkish officials and biased against Armenians. Mr.
Bryza's wife is Turkish, and Azeri news reports claimed Azeri
officials paid for Mr. Bryza's wedding. Mr. Bryza has repeatedly
denied that report and told the Senate committee that he paid for his
own wedding.
His critics also fear he tilts against ethnic Armenians, who claimed
independence for the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
A spokeswoman for the ANCA on Thursday denounced Mr. Obama for the
recess appointment and accused him of breaking campaign pledges to
Armenian-Americans, who form powerful voting blocs in states like
California and New Jersey.
"He has disregarded his campaign pledges - one after the other - when
it comes to U.S. policy toward Armenia, Turkey and the Caucasus. So,
sadly, this [appointment] follows that trend," said Elizabeth
Chouldjian.
She cited Mr. Obama's campaign pledge to recognize as genocide the
killing of at least 1 million Armenians in the Ottoman Turkish empire
during World War I.
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian called Mr. Bryza a "deeply
flawed diplomat."
"The president's push to send Matthew Bryza to [Azerbaijan] without
Senate approval represents a disservice to American diplomacy that
will undermine out nation's ability to advance our interests and
values in the Caucasus region," he said.
From: A. Papazian
December 31, 2010 Friday
Embassy Row
By James Morrison THE WASHINGTON TIMES
AMBASSADOR BRYZA
Matthew Bryza's supporters cheered this week when President Obama
ignored Senate opposition and appointed the career diplomat to serve
as U.S. ambassador to the Central Asian nation of Azerbaijan. They
also accused two senators who had blocked his nomination of abusing
their power.
The appointment is a "triumph of U.S. national interests and security
over the special interest of two senators and one ethnic community,"
the board of directors of the U.S. Azeris Network said in a statement,
adding that the board "wholeheartedly congratulates" Mr. Bryza.
The board, which represents Americans of Azerbaijani heritage, claimed
Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, and Sen. Robert Menendez, New
Jersey Democrat, bowed to political pressure from Armenian-Americans,
who opposed Mr. Bryza's appointment.
Mrs. Boxer and Mr. Menendez blocked the Senate from voting on his
nomination, so Mr. Obama appointed Mr. Bryza after Congress adjourned.
Any senator can place a "hold" on a presidential appointment that
requires Senate consent.
Mr. Bryza's tenure as ambassador is only temporary because the
Constitution requires the Senate to review recess appointments by the
end of the next calendar year. That means one of the most
controversial diplomatic nominations of the Obama administration
is likely to be re-fought before Dec. 31, 2011.
The U.S. Azeris Network said Mrs. Boxer and Mr. Menendez "abused their
powers by virtually interrogating Mr. Bryza about everything from the
birthplace of his wife to his finances and wedding gifts."
It accused the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the
Armenian Assembly of America of "intense lobbying and hysteria" in
their opposition to Mr. Bryza.
Mrs. Boxer and Mr. Menendez had expressed their concerns for issues
raised by Armenian-Americans when they sharply questioned Mr. Bryza at
a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in September.
They shared Armenian-American criticism that Mr. Bryza was too close
to Azeri and Turkish officials and biased against Armenians. Mr.
Bryza's wife is Turkish, and Azeri news reports claimed Azeri
officials paid for Mr. Bryza's wedding. Mr. Bryza has repeatedly
denied that report and told the Senate committee that he paid for his
own wedding.
His critics also fear he tilts against ethnic Armenians, who claimed
independence for the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
A spokeswoman for the ANCA on Thursday denounced Mr. Obama for the
recess appointment and accused him of breaking campaign pledges to
Armenian-Americans, who form powerful voting blocs in states like
California and New Jersey.
"He has disregarded his campaign pledges - one after the other - when
it comes to U.S. policy toward Armenia, Turkey and the Caucasus. So,
sadly, this [appointment] follows that trend," said Elizabeth
Chouldjian.
She cited Mr. Obama's campaign pledge to recognize as genocide the
killing of at least 1 million Armenians in the Ottoman Turkish empire
during World War I.
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian called Mr. Bryza a "deeply
flawed diplomat."
"The president's push to send Matthew Bryza to [Azerbaijan] without
Senate approval represents a disservice to American diplomacy that
will undermine out nation's ability to advance our interests and
values in the Caucasus region," he said.
From: A. Papazian