USA, Washington, Nov.10 / Trend special correspondent L. Katik /
Leading U.S. political scientist and former National Security Adviser to the U.S. President Zbigniew Brzezinski called the attempt to block Matthew Bryza's appointment as the next U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan "the wrong way to pursue foreign policy."
Brzezinski made the statement in reference to the efforts of Armenian lobbyists to block Bryza's candidacy while speaking at a conference on, "U.S.-Azerbaijani Relations: The State of the "Strategic Partnership," in Washington on Nov. 9
"Attempts to block the appointment of ambassadors to other countries is not the correct way to pursue foreign policy," he said.
"Any national group of U.S. citizens has the right to voice their views about foreign policy, but another issue is whether the government ought to listen to the group that makes these demands, especially unilateral demands," Brzezinski said.
"In this case, accurate estimates should be given to the case," he said, stressing that the government should have alternative solutions to this problem.
In particular, Brzezinski said Bryza could be appointed as a presidential representative heading the U.S. mission in Azerbaijan without the Senate's approval.
Earlier it was reported that the Jamestown Foundation and the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute were to hold a conference on, "U.S.-Azerbaijani Relations: The State of the "Strategic Partnership", in Washington on Nov. 9.
U.S. Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar, Jamestown Foundation President Glen E. Howard, Jamestown Foundation Senior Fellow Vladimir Socor, Azerbaijani Presidential Center for Strategic Studies Director Elkhan Nuriyev, and Central-Asia Caucasus Institute Chairman Frederick Starr also addressed the conference.
Brzezinski made a special presentation on, "Azerbaijan in U.S. Energy Policy in the Caspian."