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OBAMA RENOMINATES BRYZA FOR FULL TERM
by Asbarez
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
WASHINGTON-President Barack Obama, in the wake of his controversial
last-minute "recess" appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan in the final days of 2010, is now seeking formal Senate
support for extending the term of this contentious envoy's service
in Baku, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
The President's recess appointment of Brzya, in the last days of the
111th Congress, came despite "holds" placed on his confirmation by
Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ). A
"hold" is a Senatorial privilege that effectively blocks the full
Senate from voting upon a presidential nomination. The President's
push to get Bryza to Baku reflects a lack of concern on the part of
his Administration regarding Bryza's unusually close and controversial
ties to Azerbaijani government officials, his deeply troubling track
record as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus, and persistent
conflict of interest issues related to the Caspian energy industry.
"Armenian American voters are, once again, disappointed that President
Obama - having failed to honor any of his many pledges to Armenian
American voters - is now, over the strong objections of Senators from
his own party, pressing for Senate confirmation of his controversial
and deeply flawed recess appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look
to Senators to stand up for U.S. interests, American values, and our
nation's diplomatic credibility by doing everything in their power
to prevent the confirmation of this candidate."
Armenian Americans are encouraged to express their concerns about
President Obama's decision, and to urge the Senate to block his
confirmation by sending free ANCA Webmails using the links below:
ANCA WebMail to President Obama:
http://anca.org/action_alerts/012711_bryza_president.php
ANCA WebMail to U.S. Senators:
http://anca.org/action_alerts/012711_bryza_senate.php
Bryza, who had served as Organization of Security and Cooperation
in Europe Mink Group Co-Chair, charged with mediating the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict from 2006 through 2009, was nominated for U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan in May of 2010. The Armenian National
Committee of America opposed his nomination, issuing a 10-page
report citing issues ranging from conflict of interest concerns to
his prolonged inaction in the face of the Azerbaijani Government's
destruction of the 13th Century Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, and his
inordinately close ties to the dictatorial Aliyev Administration.
A complete overview of ANCA concerns can be found at:
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/BryzaNomination.pdf
Following his Senate confirmation hearing this July, 2010, Bryza
was asked to respond to several rounds of written questions from
Senators regarding his track record in the region. After reviewing
his testimony, written responses, and reviewing his diplomatic record,
Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez placed a "hold" on Bryza's
nomination, effectively blocking a vote on his nomination by the
full Senate.
In her remarks during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote
on his candidacy, Senator Boxer explained that she voted against the
Bryza nomination because he had not demonstrated the willingness or the
ability to meaningfully confront Azerbaijan's aggression. "Despite my
appreciation for Mr. Bryza's long service as a Foreign Service Officer,
I don't believe he is the right person for this position," explained
Senator Boxer. "What concerns me is that Mr. Bryza has demonstrated
a pattern of unwillingness to speak out forcefully in the face of
increasing Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh."
Senator Menendez, who has played a constructive role in reviewing the
Bryza confirmation process, noted that he had "serious reservations
about the U.S. ambassador nominee to Azerbaijan," citing Bryza's
inaction in the face of Azerbaijan's desecration of the Djulfa cemetery
close personal ties to regional leaders, and therefore about his
ability to act as an unbiased representative of the United States
in Azerbaijan.
Even Senators voting in favor of Bryza expressed worries about his
nomination. The panel's Chairman, John Kerry (D-MA), stated that
he appreciated the concerns raised by Senators Menendez and Boxer
and anticipated continued Senate scrutiny. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)
issued a statement following the vote, stating that he found concerns
raised by constituents and others "troubling, particularly Mr. Bryza's
relationship with the Azerbaijan Government."
From: A. Papazian
by Asbarez
Thursday, January 27th, 2011
WASHINGTON-President Barack Obama, in the wake of his controversial
last-minute "recess" appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan in the final days of 2010, is now seeking formal Senate
support for extending the term of this contentious envoy's service
in Baku, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
The President's recess appointment of Brzya, in the last days of the
111th Congress, came despite "holds" placed on his confirmation by
Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ). A
"hold" is a Senatorial privilege that effectively blocks the full
Senate from voting upon a presidential nomination. The President's
push to get Bryza to Baku reflects a lack of concern on the part of
his Administration regarding Bryza's unusually close and controversial
ties to Azerbaijani government officials, his deeply troubling track
record as a senior diplomat dealing with the Caucasus, and persistent
conflict of interest issues related to the Caspian energy industry.
"Armenian American voters are, once again, disappointed that President
Obama - having failed to honor any of his many pledges to Armenian
American voters - is now, over the strong objections of Senators from
his own party, pressing for Senate confirmation of his controversial
and deeply flawed recess appointment of Matt Bryza as Ambassador to
Azerbaijan," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We look
to Senators to stand up for U.S. interests, American values, and our
nation's diplomatic credibility by doing everything in their power
to prevent the confirmation of this candidate."
Armenian Americans are encouraged to express their concerns about
President Obama's decision, and to urge the Senate to block his
confirmation by sending free ANCA Webmails using the links below:
ANCA WebMail to President Obama:
http://anca.org/action_alerts/012711_bryza_president.php
ANCA WebMail to U.S. Senators:
http://anca.org/action_alerts/012711_bryza_senate.php
Bryza, who had served as Organization of Security and Cooperation
in Europe Mink Group Co-Chair, charged with mediating the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict from 2006 through 2009, was nominated for U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan in May of 2010. The Armenian National
Committee of America opposed his nomination, issuing a 10-page
report citing issues ranging from conflict of interest concerns to
his prolonged inaction in the face of the Azerbaijani Government's
destruction of the 13th Century Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, and his
inordinately close ties to the dictatorial Aliyev Administration.
A complete overview of ANCA concerns can be found at:
http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/misc/BryzaNomination.pdf
Following his Senate confirmation hearing this July, 2010, Bryza
was asked to respond to several rounds of written questions from
Senators regarding his track record in the region. After reviewing
his testimony, written responses, and reviewing his diplomatic record,
Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez placed a "hold" on Bryza's
nomination, effectively blocking a vote on his nomination by the
full Senate.
In her remarks during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote
on his candidacy, Senator Boxer explained that she voted against the
Bryza nomination because he had not demonstrated the willingness or the
ability to meaningfully confront Azerbaijan's aggression. "Despite my
appreciation for Mr. Bryza's long service as a Foreign Service Officer,
I don't believe he is the right person for this position," explained
Senator Boxer. "What concerns me is that Mr. Bryza has demonstrated
a pattern of unwillingness to speak out forcefully in the face of
increasing Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh."
Senator Menendez, who has played a constructive role in reviewing the
Bryza confirmation process, noted that he had "serious reservations
about the U.S. ambassador nominee to Azerbaijan," citing Bryza's
inaction in the face of Azerbaijan's desecration of the Djulfa cemetery
close personal ties to regional leaders, and therefore about his
ability to act as an unbiased representative of the United States
in Azerbaijan.
Even Senators voting in favor of Bryza expressed worries about his
nomination. The panel's Chairman, John Kerry (D-MA), stated that
he appreciated the concerns raised by Senators Menendez and Boxer
and anticipated continued Senate scrutiny. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)
issued a statement following the vote, stating that he found concerns
raised by constituents and others "troubling, particularly Mr. Bryza's
relationship with the Azerbaijan Government."
From: A. Papazian