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U.S. SENATE PANEL APPROVES AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE TO AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 20, 2012 - 10:25 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - On June 19, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
voted to approve a number of Ambassadorial nominees, including Richard
Morningstar, whom the Obama Administration designated to serve as
Ambassador to Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).
Morningstar's nomination comes amid Azerbaijan's brazen June 4
ceasefire violation. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) stated that it was
"absolutely critical that Ambassador Morningstar use his position to
respond to and counter the government of Azerbaijan's escalating acts
of aggression and threats against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh."
Responding to Senator Boxer's question submitted for the record,
Ambassador-designate Morningstar pledged that "if confirmed,
I will make the case that irresponsible rhetoric is unacceptable
and undermines our efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
conflict. I will urge the Azerbaijani government to show restraint
in its rhetoric and to prepare its people for peace, not war."
During last week's confirmation hearing, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
also raised serious concerns about Azerbaijan's cease-fire violations
that coincided with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's June visit
to the South Caucasus region, and asked Ambassador-designate a series
of pointed questions about the resulting escalation of tensions and
U.S. policy to restrain Azerbaijan's bellicosity.
Ambassador-designate Morningstar stated in response that there is
no higher U.S. priority in the region than "the peaceful solution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict." In addition, the nominee pledged:
"I will do everything that I can to discourage" inflammatory language
or any "actions that bring about loss of life," and create increased
tensions or instability.
Other Senators have also expressed concerns whether U.S. policy is
tilted toward Azerbaijan in view of its oil resources, which finances
its mounting purchases of offensive weapons. Both Morningstar and his
predecessor designee, Matthew Bryza, have been active in facilitating
negotiations over pipeline deals transporting Caspian oil to the West.
"The Armenian Assembly continues to be deeply troubled by Azerbaijan's
incessant war-mongering, including reports by RFE-RL that a
kindergarten in the village of Chinari was peppered with bullets by
Azerbaijan's June cross-border incursion," stated Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "This is simply unacceptable," Ardouny added.
In the Assembly's letter to all Members of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee as well as its June 4th letter to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, the Assembly urged that the deplorable actions by Azerbaijan
be "roundly condemned" and stated that all options must be on the
table, including "fully enforcing Section 907 of the Freedom Support
Act" as well as "ceasing all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan."
Responding to the Assembly's letter on behalf of Secretary Clinton,
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip
Gordon stated that "the United States has urged the parties to refrain
from the use or threat of force, [and] as a Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk-Group, we remain committed to working with the sides to achieve
a peaceful settlement." In addition, the letter stated that U.S.
"security assistance to the region is carefully considered to ensure
it does not undermine efforts for a peaceful settlement in Nagorno
Karabakh.
Having cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the next
step in the nomination process is for the full Senate to approve
Morningstar's nomination.
PanARMENIAN.Net
June 20, 2012 - 10:25 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - On June 19, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
voted to approve a number of Ambassadorial nominees, including Richard
Morningstar, whom the Obama Administration designated to serve as
Ambassador to Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).
Morningstar's nomination comes amid Azerbaijan's brazen June 4
ceasefire violation. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) stated that it was
"absolutely critical that Ambassador Morningstar use his position to
respond to and counter the government of Azerbaijan's escalating acts
of aggression and threats against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh."
Responding to Senator Boxer's question submitted for the record,
Ambassador-designate Morningstar pledged that "if confirmed,
I will make the case that irresponsible rhetoric is unacceptable
and undermines our efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the
conflict. I will urge the Azerbaijani government to show restraint
in its rhetoric and to prepare its people for peace, not war."
During last week's confirmation hearing, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
also raised serious concerns about Azerbaijan's cease-fire violations
that coincided with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's June visit
to the South Caucasus region, and asked Ambassador-designate a series
of pointed questions about the resulting escalation of tensions and
U.S. policy to restrain Azerbaijan's bellicosity.
Ambassador-designate Morningstar stated in response that there is
no higher U.S. priority in the region than "the peaceful solution
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict." In addition, the nominee pledged:
"I will do everything that I can to discourage" inflammatory language
or any "actions that bring about loss of life," and create increased
tensions or instability.
Other Senators have also expressed concerns whether U.S. policy is
tilted toward Azerbaijan in view of its oil resources, which finances
its mounting purchases of offensive weapons. Both Morningstar and his
predecessor designee, Matthew Bryza, have been active in facilitating
negotiations over pipeline deals transporting Caspian oil to the West.
"The Armenian Assembly continues to be deeply troubled by Azerbaijan's
incessant war-mongering, including reports by RFE-RL that a
kindergarten in the village of Chinari was peppered with bullets by
Azerbaijan's June cross-border incursion," stated Assembly Executive
Director Bryan Ardouny. "This is simply unacceptable," Ardouny added.
In the Assembly's letter to all Members of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee as well as its June 4th letter to Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, the Assembly urged that the deplorable actions by Azerbaijan
be "roundly condemned" and stated that all options must be on the
table, including "fully enforcing Section 907 of the Freedom Support
Act" as well as "ceasing all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan."
Responding to the Assembly's letter on behalf of Secretary Clinton,
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip
Gordon stated that "the United States has urged the parties to refrain
from the use or threat of force, [and] as a Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk-Group, we remain committed to working with the sides to achieve
a peaceful settlement." In addition, the letter stated that U.S.
"security assistance to the region is carefully considered to ensure
it does not undermine efforts for a peaceful settlement in Nagorno
Karabakh.
Having cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the next
step in the nomination process is for the full Senate to approve
Morningstar's nomination.