Azernews.Az

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A US newspaper on Monday published an article entitled "No more delays in confirming U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan".

The Washington Examiner’s article by Conrad Burns, a former United States senator, says that "before adjourning for August, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee postponed a vote to confirm Obama’s nominee, Matthew Bryza, to be the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan. It appears this opposition is based upon senators responding to special interest groups whose sole purpose is to oppose all things related to Azerbaijan".

It goes on to say that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the United States and was one of the first countries to stand side-by-side with the U.S. following the attacks of September 11.

"They immediately granted air space clearance, seized bank accounts suspected of supporting terrorists, sent troops to Iraq and continue to aid our efforts in the region to this day. This support is from a country with a largely Muslim population that heeded Obama’s advice, even before he gave it."

The author says "U.S. Ambassador-designate Bryza clearly has the experience and fortitude to help strengthen our relationship with Azerbaijan. I believe each member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee knows he is truly the right man for the job".

The story said "senators should not pander to special interest groups looking backward rather than to the future".

"Let’s set aside our differences, look at our commonalities and step forward with strong leaders like Mr. Bryza to work toward a common good for the United States, Azerbaijan and throughout the Caspian region", the author underlines.

The ambassador’s post has been vacant since July 2009. In May President Obama nominated Bryza, who was one of the most visible US officials in the Caucasus region during the Bush administration, serving as deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. He was also the US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, which seeks to broker a settlement to the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Early in August a US Senate panel postponed a hearing on President Obama’s nomination. The vote is due in the Committee on Foreign Relations following the August break.