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Follow on Google News | ANCA Statement on Confirmation Hearing of U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew BryzaThe Armenian National Committee of America provides its views on the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan designate Matt Bryza's responses to Senate Foreign Foreign Relations Committee queries on conflict of interest and bias toward Azerbaijan.
"Matt Bryza’s testimony unfortunately raised more questions than it answered, underscoring our longstanding concern that he is not the right person to represent the United States in Azerbaijan.” "Today's hearing shed long overdue sunshine on a number of serious shortcomings in Mr. Bryza's diplomatic activities, starting with his consistent failure to challenge Azerbaijan's belligerence, the dramatic under-spending of Congressional allocations for Nagorno Karabagh, and including, of course, his unwillingness to forcefully confront Baku's video-taped destruction of the Djulfa Armenian cemetery. In terms of addressing conflict of interest issues, his responses also fell short. His announcement that his wife, who professionally advocates on Caspian energy policy and works at the Hudson Institute, whose supporters include Azerbaijani, Turkish, and energy corporate interests, has now pledged to steer clear of State Department policymakers dealing with Azerbaijan is too little, too late, coming, as it does, ten years into his service in a series of senior and sensitive posts dealing directly with Baku and the Caspian energy industry. “We want to share our special appreciation with Senators Boxer and Menendez for their continued leadership in ensuring that the Senate approves a diplomat to Baku who can most effectively advance U.S. interests and American values in the Caucasus region, and offer thanks to Chairwoman Shaheen for raising relevant concerns regarding a possible conflict of interest." For a complete review of the ANCA's concerns regarding the Bryza nomination, visit: http://www.anca.org/ To watch the complete hearing visit: http://foreign.senate.gov/ # # # The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization. The ANCA actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. End
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