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U.S. SENATE PANEL TO CONSIDER AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE TO AZERBAIJAN JUNE 13
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 12, 2012 - 12:00 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will
consider President Obama's nomination of Richard Morningstar to
serve as Ambassador to Azerbaijan, during a hearing on Wednesday,
June 13 that will be webcast live on the panel's website, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"Ambassador Morningstar's confirmation hearing is an opportunity
for the Senate to shed light on the question that's really at the
heart of U.S.-Azerbaijani relations: 'Is the Administration ready
to forcefully challenge Baku's threats and acts of aggression, or
will it simply continue cheerleading for Ilham Aliyev's military
escalation and march toward war?'" said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "We look forward to members of the Committee giving this
important nomination the attention and scrutiny it clearly deserves."
The nomination hearing comes just a week after a marked escalation
in Azerbaijani attacks against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh which
led to 8 deaths. The cross-border fighting occurred during Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the region, prompting Clinton to
once again to urge the end of violence, but stopping short of properly
condemning Azerbaijani aggression.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Chairwoman of the panel's
subcommittee dealing with European affairs, is scheduled to lead the
hearing, which affords members the opportunity to exercise their
advise and consent responsibilities by reviewing candidates for
diplomatic posts, conducting oversight of executive branch activities,
and exploring the various policy issues related to their future
responsibilities.
Richard L. Morningstar currently serves as the U.S. Special Envoy
for Eurasian Energy. His experience in the Caucasus includes his
appointment as Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of
State for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy, where he was responsible
for assuring maximum coordination within the Executive Branch and
with other governments and international organizations to promote
United States policies on Caspian Basin energy development and
transportation. From April 1995 to July 1998, he served as Ambassador
and Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on
Assistance for the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union
where he oversaw all U.S. bilateral assistance and trade investment
activities in the NIS.
Ambassador Morningstar's nomination follows the ill-fated Senate
consideration of Matthew Bryza for the same post in 2009. Bryza was
never confirmed by the Senate, eventually serving a one-year term as
Ambassador through a recess appointment by President Obama amid Senate
and Armenian American concerns of both bias and conflict of interest
related to his close ties to Azerbaijan's corrupt Aliyev regime.
"It's regrettable that Mr. Bryza was allowed, for so long, to use
his senior U.S. government postings as a platform to advance his own
agenda regarding Ankara and Baku," explained Hamparian. "Mr. Bryza -
with his own words, actions, and choice of employment - has confirmed
the fears of his critics, vindicated those who opposed his nomination,
and embarrassed many in the foreign policy community whose knee-jerk
reaction was to stand in his defense, but who today, upon reflection,
respect and likely even share the very legitimate reasons for the
ANCA's opposition to his confirmation."
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 12, 2012 - 12:00 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee will
consider President Obama's nomination of Richard Morningstar to
serve as Ambassador to Azerbaijan, during a hearing on Wednesday,
June 13 that will be webcast live on the panel's website, reported
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
"Ambassador Morningstar's confirmation hearing is an opportunity
for the Senate to shed light on the question that's really at the
heart of U.S.-Azerbaijani relations: 'Is the Administration ready
to forcefully challenge Baku's threats and acts of aggression, or
will it simply continue cheerleading for Ilham Aliyev's military
escalation and march toward war?'" said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "We look forward to members of the Committee giving this
important nomination the attention and scrutiny it clearly deserves."
The nomination hearing comes just a week after a marked escalation
in Azerbaijani attacks against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh which
led to 8 deaths. The cross-border fighting occurred during Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton's visit to the region, prompting Clinton to
once again to urge the end of violence, but stopping short of properly
condemning Azerbaijani aggression.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Chairwoman of the panel's
subcommittee dealing with European affairs, is scheduled to lead the
hearing, which affords members the opportunity to exercise their
advise and consent responsibilities by reviewing candidates for
diplomatic posts, conducting oversight of executive branch activities,
and exploring the various policy issues related to their future
responsibilities.
Richard L. Morningstar currently serves as the U.S. Special Envoy
for Eurasian Energy. His experience in the Caucasus includes his
appointment as Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of
State for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy, where he was responsible
for assuring maximum coordination within the Executive Branch and
with other governments and international organizations to promote
United States policies on Caspian Basin energy development and
transportation. From April 1995 to July 1998, he served as Ambassador
and Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State on
Assistance for the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union
where he oversaw all U.S. bilateral assistance and trade investment
activities in the NIS.
Ambassador Morningstar's nomination follows the ill-fated Senate
consideration of Matthew Bryza for the same post in 2009. Bryza was
never confirmed by the Senate, eventually serving a one-year term as
Ambassador through a recess appointment by President Obama amid Senate
and Armenian American concerns of both bias and conflict of interest
related to his close ties to Azerbaijan's corrupt Aliyev regime.
"It's regrettable that Mr. Bryza was allowed, for so long, to use
his senior U.S. government postings as a platform to advance his own
agenda regarding Ankara and Baku," explained Hamparian. "Mr. Bryza -
with his own words, actions, and choice of employment - has confirmed
the fears of his critics, vindicated those who opposed his nomination,
and embarrassed many in the foreign policy community whose knee-jerk
reaction was to stand in his defense, but who today, upon reflection,
respect and likely even share the very legitimate reasons for the
ANCA's opposition to his confirmation."