Bryza’s possible appointment to Baku reflects not only Azerbaijan’s strategic significance: Armenian expert

For Azerbaijan, the possible appointment is significance for several reasons, the expert said.

"This reflects not only Azerbaijan's strategic significance for the U.S., but is also tied to the recent warming of relations between Baku and Moscow, Giragosian told via e-mail.

"Thus, Bryza offers Washington a chance to have a high-profile diplomat, with extensive experience to fill this sensitive post."

The expert said in fact, since the move was first disclosed in the June 2009 issue of the Foreign Policy Magazine, there has been heated interest and even hotter debate in the region over Bryza's future.

In early June, Foreign Policy Magazine reported that the U.S. Congress holds informal consultations on the possibility of appointing Bryza as a U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan.

"The question on my appointment as an ambassador to Azerbaijan has not been decided yet," Bryza said at a briefing for journalists in Tbilisi on August 10.

He added that he would continue his work in the Caucasus with pleasure, but this is decided by his leaders.

Term of Bryza's office as co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group will terminate soon.

Bryza, who has already made it clear that he will be assuming a new post soon, has recently visited the region in what appeared to be a "farewell" series of meetings as the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Giragosian said.

There is a need to name a new US ambassador in Baku quickly, he said.

"Too much is happening, in terms of both regional developments and in light of the OSCE's Minsk Group diplomatic effort to mediate the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, to have the seat remain vacant for too long, especially since previous Ambassador, Anne Derse left the country in early July," Giragosian said.

But it is important to note that Bryza's move is a normal rotation, and stems from a routine process of U.S. diplomacy, the political expert said.

There seems to be a need to put a figure of Bryza's stature in the post, reflected his knowledge, contacts and visibility in dealing with the region, Giragosian said.

/Trend News/