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Former congressman Michael McMahon: US Embassy posting returns to its unacceptably long â€œvacantâ€ status

01 February 2012 16:02 (UTC +04:00)

â€œThe diplomat in waiting, Mathew Bryza, had to return from Baku after the Senate blocked the confirmation of this clearly qualified emissary.
Appointed by President Obama during last yearâ€™s legislative break, Ambassador Bryzaâ€™s posting expired, and now this important Embassy posting returns to its unacceptably long â€œvacantâ€ status.

As a former member of the House, I understand local politics and the need to represent certain constituents, but as a former member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I believe we must always put the national interest first. Azerbaijan is a proven ally, and forging a good relationship with this emerging power in the South Caucasus is clearly in Americaâ€™s best interest,â€ he says.

â€œWith a population of a little over 9 million, Azerbaijan has sought to align itself with the United States since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The nation, roughly the size of Maine, is located on the Western Shores of the Caspian Sea. The strategic importance of this location has been recognized since the time of the Silk Road and is highlighted by todayâ€™s need to move materiel and troops to and from NATO forces in Afghanistan and makes it of profound geopolitical significance.

Beyond Afghanistan and energy politics, Azerbaijan is of utmost importance given its border with Iran and the fact that close to 30 million Azeris live in that country. Their language and cultural connection to their brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan make it all the more critical for the United States to have strong ties with her,â€ he says.

McMahon says the United States must continue to champion the process of resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict within the Minsk Group of the OSCE.