Will Bryza be appointed U.S. Ambassador?
OSCE Minsk group U.S. Co-Chair Mattew Bryza was reccomended as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan, report Azerbaijani mass media citing Foriegn Policy magazine. According to the magazine, Bryza's candidature was proposed by Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried.
Mattew Bryza has made no announcements on the possible appointment. Neither has the White House proposed Bryza for the position.
"We have received no announcement. The issue must first be settled by the U.S. authorities," Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elkhan Polukhov announced today.
Armenian politician Stepan Safarian said in this regard: "All recent U.S. co-chairs of the Minsk group, including Steven Mann and Mattew Bryza, were experts on energetic issues rather than experts of conflict management. As U.S. Co-Chairs engaged in the Karabakh conflict settlement they all pursued U.S. economic and military interests in the Caspian region.
Mattew Bryza is a serious expert on energetic issues in the Caspian region. Heritage's announcement made after the Mein Dorf declaration confirms that Karabakh conflict is used by super powers to extort desirable decision from Azerbaijan."
And why is Bryza's candidature circulated? Doesn't it mean that Bryza was not neutral in the negotiations over the Karabakh conflict? In reply to A1+'s question, Mr. Safarian said: "Bryza is well aware of the regional countries and, most important, has a great experience with Azerbaijani authorities."
Stepan Safarian concluded his speech with a rhetoric question: "They may have known from the very beginning that Karabakh conflict has no settlement and they simply activated it. Who knows? Many consider the conflict as a challenge rather than a chance."
"We hope that the new U.S. Co-Chair who will replace Mr. Bryza will bring a new stimulus and reflect President Barack Obama's stance towards NKR conflict and Armenian-Turkish relations," added the politician.
