Azernews.Az

BAKU – US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza has dismissed the allegations of Armenian campaigners seeking to block his approval at the US Senate that he has links to the Azerbaijani government.

"The reports about me are wrong. But everyone is entitled to their opinion," he told journalists in Baku on Friday.

Asked when the US Senate is due to consider the appointment of the country's envoy to Azerbaijan, Bryza, who is to step down at the end of 2011 if he is not endorsed by the legislature, said he was unaware of the date at this point.

"The main point is that I will have the opportunity to address the hearing and defend myself," he added.

The Armenian National Committee of America has reportedly launched a new campaign against Ambassador Bryza, calling on Armenians to send appeals to senators urging them not to approve him as Azerbaijan envoy.

The appointment of Bryza, who was nominated for the post in May 2010, had been stalled by lawmakers for months due to the opposition of several pro-Armenian senators who cited his alleged pro-Azerbaijani bias in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. But President Barack Obama in late December bypassed the usual Senate confirmation process to appoint Bryza. However, the so-called recess appointment is temporary, lasting only until the Congressional session ends in late 2011.