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Obama renominates Bryza for Senate approval, Menendez "disappointed"
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-01-29-obama-renominates-bryza-for-senate-approval-menendez--disappointed-
Published: Saturday January 29, 2011
Senators Menendez and Boxer hear Bryza's testimony last July. ANCA
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 (ANCA). Sen.
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) who previously place a hold on the
nomination, said he was "disappointed" by this decision.
The President's recess appointment of Bryza, 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."
Upon learning of President Obama's recess appointment of Bryza as U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan at the end of December, Sen. Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) expressed concern, stating, "I am disappointed by the
Administration's decision to recess appoint Matthew Bryza as U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan without addressing the concerns raised by
Senators during his nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee - chiefly his refusal to acknowledge the Armenian
genocide."
Sen. Menendez continued, noting "This is a matter of respect for the
Armenian people. The Armenian genocide was one of the great atrocities
of modern history and it is unconscionable that we would send a
diplomat to the region who does not support recognizing what is
considered among historians to be the first modern genocide. It is my
fervent hope that Administration will adopt the comment made by
President Obama in 2008 that `the Armenian Genocide is not an
allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence' as a tenet of U.S. foreign policy to be reflected in the
words and actions of our foreign service personnel in the region."
Following his Senate confirmation hearing in July, 2010, Bryza was
asked to respond to several rounds of written questions from Senators
regarding his track record in the region. The holds by Senators Boxer
and Menendez came after reviewing his testimony, written responses,
and reviewing his diplomatic record, 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
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2011-01-29-obama-renominates-bryza-for-senate-approval-menendez--disappointed-
Published: Saturday January 29, 2011
Senators Menendez and Boxer hear Bryza's testimony last July. ANCA
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 (ANCA). Sen.
Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) who previously place a hold on the
nomination, said he was "disappointed" by this decision.
The President's recess appointment of Bryza, 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."
Upon learning of President Obama's recess appointment of Bryza as U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan at the end of December, Sen. Robert Menendez
(D-NJ) expressed concern, stating, "I am disappointed by the
Administration's decision to recess appoint Matthew Bryza as U.S.
Ambassador to Azerbaijan without addressing the concerns raised by
Senators during his nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee - chiefly his refusal to acknowledge the Armenian
genocide."
Sen. Menendez continued, noting "This is a matter of respect for the
Armenian people. The Armenian genocide was one of the great atrocities
of modern history and it is unconscionable that we would send a
diplomat to the region who does not support recognizing what is
considered among historians to be the first modern genocide. It is my
fervent hope that Administration will adopt the comment made by
President Obama in 2008 that `the Armenian Genocide is not an
allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a
widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical
evidence' as a tenet of U.S. foreign policy to be reflected in the
words and actions of our foreign service personnel in the region."
Following his Senate confirmation hearing in July, 2010, Bryza was
asked to respond to several rounds of written questions from Senators
regarding his track record in the region. The holds by Senators Boxer
and Menendez came after reviewing his testimony, written responses,
and reviewing his diplomatic record, 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