The Washington Post has published an article by Fred Hiatt about the role of the Armenian lobby in impeding realization US interests, 1news.az reports.
US President Barack Obama sent a high-skilled diplomat as ambassador to Azerbaijan but returned him in a month. The failed appointment of Matthew Bryza is a demonstration of political moves. The story starts in the oil-rich Azerbaijan, a republic on the Caspian Sea coast with a population of 8 million people, mainly Muslims, The Washington Post wrote. Its competitor is Armenia with a population of 3 million, mainly Christians
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia was expected to follow a scenario of successful development, due to its cultural identity and loyal communities in the US, France and other states. Yet, its poor economy resulted in the country taking the 141th position in the list of the poorest states with an income per capita of $5700 annually.
Armenia failed to settle conflicts with Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and two pro-Armenian US republican senators Barbara Boxer and Robert Menendez disapproved Bryza as the ambassador. They were dragging the appointment in 2010, neglecting his professional skills. John F. Kerry, Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, a democrat from Massachusetts, has not ordered hearings.
Menendez noted Bryza's refusal to recognize Armenian Genocide of Turkey as a reason for not approving him as ambassador. Boxer said that Bryza is not devoted to stopping Azerbaijani agression.
36 diplomats, including Thomas Pickering and Nicolas Berns, former Deputy Secretaries of State, published a letter where Bryza was called the perfect ambassador.
