WILL BRYZA BE APPOINTED U.S. AMBASSADOR?
A1+
03:54 pm | June 15, 2009 | Politics
OSCE Minsk group U.S. Co-Chair Mattew Bryza was reccomended as
U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan, report
Azerbaijani mass media citing Foriegn Policy magazine. According to
the magazine, Bryza’s candidature was proposed by Assistant Secretary
of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried.
Mattew Bryza has made no announcements on the possible
appointment. Neither has the White House proposed Bryza for the
position.
"We have received no announcement. The issue must first be settled
by the U.S. authorities," Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
Elkhan Polukhov announced today.
Armenian politician Stepan Safarian said in this regard: "All
recent U.S. co-chairs of the Minsk group, including Steven Mann and
Mattew Bryza, were experts on energetic issues rather than experts
of conflict management. As U.S. Co-Chairs engaged in the Karabakh
conflict settlement they all pursued U.S. economic and military
interests in the Caspian region.
Mattew Bryza is a serious expert on energetic issues in the Caspian
region. Heritage’s announcement made after the Mein Dorf declaration
confirms that Karabakh conflict is used by super powers to extort
desirable decision from Azerbaijan."
And why is Bryza’s candidature circulated? Doesn’t it mean that Bryza
was not neutral in the negotiations over the Karabakh conflict? In
reply to A1+’s question, Mr. Safarian said: "Bryza is well aware of
the regional countries and, most important, has a great experience
with Azerbaijani authorities."
Stepan Safarian concluded his speech with a rhetoric question: "They
may have known from the very beginning that Karabakh conflict has
no settlement and they simply activated it. Who knows? Many consider
the conflict as a challenge rather than a chance."
"We hope that the new U.S. Co-Chair who will replace Mr. Bryza will
bring a new stimulus and reflect President Barack Obama’s stance
towards NKR conflict and Armenian-Turkish relations," added the
politician.