Calls for Careful Review of Past Diplomatic Track Record
WASHINGTON–The Obama Administration’s nomination Tuesday of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza for the post of U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan has prompted the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) to launch a nationwide campaign calling upon U.S. Senators to carefully scrutinize his diplomatic record on issues impacting U.S. interests and American values in the Caucasus, Southeastern Europe, and the surrounding region.
“We look to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the full U.S. Senate to carefully scrutinize Mr. Bryza’s record, his formal testimony, and responses to the inquiries that he will face during his confirmation process,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “As we have outlined publicly on a number of occasions, we continue to have an array of concerns about Mr. Bryza’s conduct of U.S. diplomacy – as an NSC official, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and as the U.S. negotiator in the Nagorno Karabagh peace process – and, as such, look forward to a vigorous process of advice and consent by the Senate.”
An online ANCA Webmail campaign to Senators urges a “full airing” of a broad range of past and present-day views held by Bryza, including his position “related to the Armenian Genocide, the firing of Ambassador John Evans over his truthful statements recognizing the Genocide, Turkey and Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia, the independence of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic, the origins and consequences of the Russia-Georgia war, Azerbaijan’s demolition and desecration of a 7th century Armenian cemetery in Djulfa, Azerbaijani military threats against Armenians, and the impact of the energy industry on U.S. foreign policy.”
Concerned activists can contact their Senators by visiting the ANCA Action Alert here.
In August, 2009, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian called specific attention to Bryza’s public statements regarding a number of issues, including the application of the flawed and one-sided Madrid Principles as the basis for the resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh issue.
Armenian American journalist Harut Sassounian, the publisher of the California Courier, wrote his most recent weekly column about the Bryza nomination. Click here to read the full text of his article.
Another clown on the take following the trail of blood money in order to make a career. Bryza is just another useless mouthpiece for our impotent administration that will ensure America stays a middle power.
There was/ is a lot of talk about Bryza’s Turkish wife, which coincidentially carries the same last name as about 7,000 Armenian (Barans), Sinans and thousands of other Armenians worldwide. I have heard stories of small orphaned Baran children Turkified by the Turkish regime, and would not be surprised to see if Ms. Baran hailed from Turkified Armenian lineage. There are more Armenians carrying family names such as Sinan, Baran, and Gulians than Turks. Strange..very strange.
I hope this will be a hard lesson to the Armenians.Do not promote,vote for a politician,who said he will recognize the Armenian Genocide.They all lie.
My Friends : They have been lying for couple centuries and we armenians are in that mode of ‘ do nothing ‘ about it.
My Friends : They have been lying for couple centuries and we armenians are in that mode of ‘ do nothing ‘ about it.
lets get out of this passive mode.
Well back in 11/08 we had achoice between Lt.Dan and Lando Kalrizian.I always liked Star Wars.I’ve never had any expectations as far as this “over fed,long haired” country is concerned.America is nothing to aspire to.Armenians that have come here since the fall of the Soviot Union are looked down on by the rest of America.Try living out in the wilderness where you have to explain to every one you meet,argue with rual religious dullards,christian conservitives like Glenn Beck,and the fact that a vast majority of Americans don’t have a clue as to whats going on.This nomination is atypical of American politics and HiC and the 50/50 bar knows it.”Passive mode” more like playing dead mode.Right now I think the Iranians are more of a friend to Armenia than the Jews or Americans.
I agree with john. America didn’t serve us justice, they are playing with us and using us. Not much to expect from US and EU too. As a result, we should look towards the good old neighbor Persia/Iran, our big brother Russia, and China.
What can I say, don’t you see they foolin the armenian community?! Promising to recognize genocide and then not doing it, that’s just too much for a human to bear.
Good neighbors and big brothers aside,Armenia is not going to secure her future until we show strength and resolve at home.Sure the Russians can be a good friend but they do for themselves before others.Same with the Iranians,and thats something Armenia needs to learn to do as well.If the so called Christian west will not be there for the worlds 1st Christian nation that only shows the Islamists they can win.The Turks are playing the Russians,the Russians are playing the Iranians,and Isreal is going to be duped into a war they don’t even need to fight.