The Armenian National Committee of America is urging senators to oppose confirmation of Matthew Bryza's appointment as ambassador to Azerbaijan.
"Armenian-Americans are organizing for a second time to stop the appointment of career diplomat Matthew Bryza as ambassador to Azerbaijan, where he is serving in a temporary position," The Washington Times reported on 6 February.
"The Armenian-American lobby, politically powerful in states including New Jersey and California, claims Mr Bryza is biased toward Azerbaijan, which is locked in a bitter and sometimes bloody conflict with neighbouring Armenia," James Morrison wrote in the paper's Embassy Row column.
“Armenian-American voters are, once again, disappointed that President Obama, having failed to honour 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,” The Washington Times quoted Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America, as saying.
Aram Hamparian appealed to the two Democratic senators who earlier blocked Bryza's confirmation in the Senate, Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez, to continue their opposition.
“We look to senators to stand up for US interests, American values and our nation’s diplomacy credibility by doing everything in their power to prevent the confirmation of this candidate,” Aram Hamparian said.
Matthew Brya arrived in Baku on Sunday evening. He told journalists at the airport that he was honoured to return to Azerbaijan as US ambassador.
The USA had been without an envoy for 18 months since the previous incumbent, Anne Derse, completed her term in July 2009.
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