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PRESS RELEASE
December 6, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: http://www.aaainc.org/
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NOMINEES
FOR AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)
approved President Obama's nominees to serve as ambassador to Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Richard M. Mills, Jr. and Robert F. Cekuta, respectively,
reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The SFRC approved a
slew of nominations by voice vote during a closed-door meeting in the
Capitol.
`We would like to thank out-going U.S. Ambassador John Heffern for his work
and accomplishments during his tenure,' stated Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. `We look forward to working with the next ambassador to
continue strengthening the U.S.-Armenia partnership,' Ardouny said.
The confirmation of the two nominees comes at a crucial time as increased
tensions along the Line of Contact (LOC) between Nagorno Karabakh (NK) and
Azerbaijan have claimed dozens of lives this year. The latest example of
Azerbaijan aggression occurred on November 12th, when an Azerbaijani
military unit stationed near the LOC shot down an unarmed NK army
helicopter killing all three servicemen aboard.
A career diplomat, Richard M. Mills, Jr., has held numerous diplomatic
positions. Currently, he is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy
in Beirut, Lebanon.
He also has diplomatic experience with Armenia. Early in his career,
following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he was the desk officer at
the State Department for the newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Mills has also held positions in Malta, Paris, St. Petersburg and Dublin,
among others.
He is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Mills holds a J.D. from the University Of Texas School Of Law, as well as
an M.A. in International Security Affairs from the National Defense
University.
Robert F. Cekuta is currently the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State of the Energy Resources Bureau. Prior to this, he was the Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Energy, Sanctions, and Commodities in the State
Department's Bureau for Energy and Business Affairs. Previous overseas
assignments have included stints in Tokyo and Berlin. He is a graduate of
Georgetown University and holds an M.A. from the Thunderbird School of
Global Management and the National War College.
With the committee's approval, their nominations move to the Senate floor
for a vote, which is expected sometime next week. Senate confirmation of a
number of President Obama's nominees including Mills and Cekuta are likely
before Congress adjourns for the year.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR:# 2014-054
Available online at: http://bit.ly/1G3g6wQ
December 6, 2014
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: http://www.aaainc.org/
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NOMINEES
FOR AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)
approved President Obama's nominees to serve as ambassador to Armenia and
Azerbaijan, Richard M. Mills, Jr. and Robert F. Cekuta, respectively,
reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). The SFRC approved a
slew of nominations by voice vote during a closed-door meeting in the
Capitol.
`We would like to thank out-going U.S. Ambassador John Heffern for his work
and accomplishments during his tenure,' stated Assembly Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. `We look forward to working with the next ambassador to
continue strengthening the U.S.-Armenia partnership,' Ardouny said.
The confirmation of the two nominees comes at a crucial time as increased
tensions along the Line of Contact (LOC) between Nagorno Karabakh (NK) and
Azerbaijan have claimed dozens of lives this year. The latest example of
Azerbaijan aggression occurred on November 12th, when an Azerbaijani
military unit stationed near the LOC shot down an unarmed NK army
helicopter killing all three servicemen aboard.
A career diplomat, Richard M. Mills, Jr., has held numerous diplomatic
positions. Currently, he is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy
in Beirut, Lebanon.
He also has diplomatic experience with Armenia. Early in his career,
following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he was the desk officer at
the State Department for the newly independent Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Mills has also held positions in Malta, Paris, St. Petersburg and Dublin,
among others.
He is a graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Mills holds a J.D. from the University Of Texas School Of Law, as well as
an M.A. in International Security Affairs from the National Defense
University.
Robert F. Cekuta is currently the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State of the Energy Resources Bureau. Prior to this, he was the Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Energy, Sanctions, and Commodities in the State
Department's Bureau for Energy and Business Affairs. Previous overseas
assignments have included stints in Tokyo and Berlin. He is a graduate of
Georgetown University and holds an M.A. from the Thunderbird School of
Global Management and the National War College.
With the committee's approval, their nominations move to the Senate floor
for a vote, which is expected sometime next week. Senate confirmation of a
number of President Obama's nominees including Mills and Cekuta are likely
before Congress adjourns for the year.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR:# 2014-054
Available online at: http://bit.ly/1G3g6wQ