The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee postponed a vote on Matthew Bryza, who has been nominated by the Barack Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan, in response to pressure from Armenian lobby groups.

The Armenian lobby in the United States has accused Bryza of incompetence and bias. He was also allegedly criticized because of his spouse, Zeyno Baran, who is Turkish.

The U.S. Foreign Relations Committee approved the nominations on more than 30 ambassadorial appointees but a “hold-over” request from Senator Barbara Boxer delayed the vote on Bryza.

The Armenian National Committee of America, or ANCA, on July 12, shared with senators a detailed nine-page review of the shortcomings of the Bryza nomination.

In the review of “potential conflicts on Bryza’s nomination,” ANCA argued: “Bryza’s wife, Zeyno Baran, is the Director of the Center for Eurasian Policy at the Hudson Institute, and, in this professional capacity, advocates for U.S. policy positions affecting the geographic region that Mr. Bryza has overseen as a State Department employee, and that he would have purview over if confirmed as ambassador to Azerbaijan.”

Many probing questions by Senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez, who expressed concerns about the nomination, were asked on Bryza’s July 22 confirmation hearing before the Foreign Relations Committee.

Bryza’s designation will be discussed in another meeting of the committee following Senate scrutiny on him. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid personally wrote a letter to the State Department raising questions about the Bryza nomination.

For Bryza’s situation Senator Richard Lugar, veteran member of the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee, said he was a quality diplomat and was confident in Bryza. The appointee, meanwhile, would contribute to the bilateral relations between the US and Azerbaijan, he added.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Foreign Relations Committee adopted the appointment of Francis Joseph Ricciardone, the new U.S. ambassador to Turkey. In the meeting on Tuesday the committee talked about other nominees of Obama.

James Jeffrey’s appointment to Iraq, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, was also adopted by the Senate.

Lugar told reporters that Ricciardone was a “remarkable” diplomat. Noting he had worked long years with Ricciardone, Lugar said he was entirely professional and did an enormous job during his career in the Foreign Ministry.

Lugar said Ricciardone had long aspired to work in Turkey. “I admire his willingness and support him.”

The approvals of the committee will go to the House Floor of the Senate before being formally appointed.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News
URL: www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=bryza-nomination-postponed-at-armenian-lobby-accusations-2010-08-04