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Appointment of Matthew Bryza as US ambassador to Azerbaijan hindered by Armenian lobby

04 August 2010 08:00 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports quoting Turkeyâ€™s Cihan news agency that the appointment of new ambassadors was discussed at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The US ambassador to Turkey Francis Joseph Ricciardone was confirmed, but Matthew Bryzaâ€™s nomination was not put to the vote. The vote was postponed at the request of pro-Armenian Senator Barbara Boxer. Matthew Bryzaâ€™s appointment will be discussed later.

Following the meeting, one of the most experienced members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Richard Lugar told journalists that he supported Matthew Bryza. Richard Lugar underlined that he believed in Matthew Bryza.
â€œI think the Department of State will clarify Senator Boxerâ€™s concerns and work with her on their elimination,â€ he said.

Asked about the influence of the absence of the US ambassador to Azerbaijan on the relations of the two countries, Richard Lugar said the influence of such gaps on the bilateral relations was inevitable.