U.S. Senate panel to vote Bryza nomination as Ambassador to Azerbaijan Sept. 21

September 21, 2010 - 15:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Today, September 21, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set to vote on Matthew Bryza, President Obama's nominee, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

The Committee hearing will be led by the Senator John Kerry.

The Armenian National Committee of America launched a protest campaign against Bryza’s appointment to ambassadorial position.

At an August 3 hearing, the Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts) announced that, at the request of fellow committee member Barbara Boxer (Democrat, California), a vote on the nomination of Matthew Bryza would be postponed until after Congress's summer recess.

The postponement of the vote on his nomination as ambassador to Azerbaijan followed a July 22 confirmation hearing by the same Senate committee, in which Bryza faced tough questions on his diplomatic record - including concerns that in the past, he has not held Azerbaijan adequately responsible for its role in the continuing tensions with Armenia.

Boxer, along with Senators Robert Menendez (Democrat, New Jersey) and Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, New Hampshire) also pressed Bryza on several other matters from his State Department diplomatic record.