Former U.S. ambassador in Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza joined the protest action in Taksim square in Istanbul on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the “Khojali Massacre” on February 26, yesterday.
“I know about the action in Taksim, and I’m joining it,” Matthew Bryza declared.
The protest action in Taksim square on February 26 brought together about 300 000 people, mostly representatives of Azerbaijani and Turkish youth. Activists carried posters declaring “We are all Azeri”.
ISTANBUL. – Washington should focus on a breakthrough in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which will be followed by Turkey-Armenia reconciliation as a consequence, former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza said in an interview with Turkish Hurriyet Daily News.
According to him, it is possible to work on a framework agreement on Karabakh.
“Once you work hard to get the framework agreement, make clear you will do everything possible to make sure the framework becomes a final peace agreement,” he stated.
Bryza also stressed that the sides are extremely close to a breakthrough.
“There are a couple of core, key details that can only be agreed upon if the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan make a very difficult and risky political decision. They would not do that until they feel they receive political support from the U.S. and France,” he said.
In response to the question if Washington is interested in Karabakh conflict settlement, Bryza said there is willingness, based on his conversation with the U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton.
via Washington must concentrate on achieving breakthrough on Karabakh – Bryza | Armenia News – NEWS.am.
Matthew Bryza: Turkey succeeds in becoming energy hub
Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.11 / Trend A. Badalova /
Turkey succeeded in becoming an energy hub, former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza told in an interview with Hurriyet Daily News.
“It [Turkey] has gas coming from Iraq, Azerbaijan and Russia, [and will] eventually [get it] from northern Iraq,” Mr Bryza said.
Mr Bryza noted Turkey’s aspiration was to be a link for its strategic brothers in Azerbaijan and Central Asia with Europe.
“It can be both. A hub is a link. The question is for Turkey to decide how much it wants to play a strategic role as a link or how much it wants to be at the centerpiece, he said. My hope is that Turkey will think first and foremost about the importance to Europe … to have a diversified flow of gas from Central Asia and think of its partners that look to Turkey as their strategic link to Europe …”
Turkey is considered one of the main players in the Southern Gas Corridor projects, which aims to diversify energy supply routes and sources and, therefore, increase energy security of the European countries.
Gas, which will be produced during the second stage of Azerbaijani Shah Deniz gas field development, is considered the main supply source for these projects.
In October, 2011 Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a number of key gas export related agreements to enable Turkey to buy gas from Azerbaijan and to transit Azerbaijan gas through Turkey to Europe.
The agreements provide a legal framework to regulate the sale of Shah Deniz gas to Turkey and its transportation to European markets through Turkey.
Azerbaijan plans to export 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe within the Shah Deniz 2 project.
via Matthew Bryza: Turkey succeeds in becoming energy hub – Trend.
Azerbaijan — U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza at a press-conference in Baku, 03Apr2009
A pro-Armenian member of the U.S. Senate blocked on Tuesday a planned vote on President Barack Obama’s choice of the new U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan opposed by some Armenian-American groups.
Bryza was one of the most visible U.S. officials in the South Caucasus during the administration of former President George W. Bush, serving as deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. He was also the U.S. co-chair of the Minsk Group until last fall.
Reports from Washington said the committee vote was postponed at least until September at the initiative of Senator Barbara Boxer (Democrat-California). The move was welcomed by the main Armenian advocacy groups in the United States.
“The hold-over requested today by Senator Boxer provides needed additional time for a closer look into a flawed nomination,” said Aram Hamparian, the executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), a vocal opponent of Bryza’s appointment.
“We appreciate Senator Barbara Boxer’s determination to ensure that key policy issues are addressed,” Taniel Koushakjian, the grassroots director of the Armenian Assembly of America, said in a separate statement. Unlike the ANCA, the Assembly has not explicitly rejected Obama’s pick for the vacant post in Baku.
Boxer was among several pro-Armenian senators who questioned Bryza’s impartiality in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during committee hearings late last month. The Assembly statement said she “felt that her questions to Mr. Bryza were not answered directly.”
In particular, the former Bush administration official was pressed by Senator Robert Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey) on a pro-Azerbaijani statement attributed to him in 2008. He said it was incorrectly translated from Russian, and pledged to respect the concept of self-determination for Karabakh’s population.
Bryza also denied playing any role in the 2006 dismissal of the then U.S. ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, that was widely attributed to this public affirmation of the 1915 Armenian genocide.
It was Menendez who blocked congressional endorsement of Evans’s replacement nominated by Bush at the time. The senator’s so-called “hold” forced the Republican administration to propose another ambassadorial candidate to the Senate two years later.
Significantly, the pro-Armenian senators’ concerns seem to be shared by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. In a recent letter to the State Department, Reid, who himself has a warm rapport with Armenian-American leaders, voiced misgivings about Bryza’s nomination.
[ 18 Sep 2008 19:36 ]
Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva – APA. American co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza held a press conference on the outcomes of his visit to Baku. APA reports that the co-chair said Azerbaijan and the Unites States continued active cooperation.
“The main aspect of this cooperation is the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” he said.
Matthew Bryza said the Unites States supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
“We intend to help the conflicting parties to reach an agreement. This agreement should be based on the countries’ territorial integrity, later we should use other practice of the international law. We should find a way satisfying both sides, then a deal should be signed as in business. Our leadership is paying more attention to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict now than ever before,” he said.
Matthew Bryza said he planned to meet with other co-chair Bernard Fassier in Baku and hoped to continue cooperation with Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov.
The co-chair also took a stance on the Caucasus Cooperation and Stability Pact initiated by Turkey.
“Any step serving to establish peace in the region is praiseworthy. Turkey is the ally of both the United States and Azerbaijan. It is good if this country wants to contribute to the establishment of peace. Some countries of the region ask why the US and European Union do not participate in this platform, why only Turkey and Russia are represented in the new format. And Georgia says that it is not ready to participate in this project together with Russia, which violated the country’s territorial integrity. Turkey is not the co-chair of OSCE Minsk group, but this country knows more about Azerbaijan and Armenia,” he said.
Matthew Bryza appreciated the steps taken to normalize the relations between Turkey and Armenia.
“Both countries have made steps important from political aspect. This is a new direction, there is a need for new directions after the happenings in Georgia,” he said.
Taking a stance on the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents American co-chair said the heads of states determine when they should meet.
“We, diplomats only give recommendations,” he said.
Speaking about the attitude of GUAM countries towards the happenings in Georgia, Matthew Bryza said the organization openly supported official Tbilisi.
“For example, Viktor Yushchenko openly expressed this support. Sometimes this support was silent, but too important,” he said.
Matthew Bryza said the policy of the United States on the region would not change.
“We will be more active in the region,” he said.
Source: en.apa.az, 18 Sep 2008
