Adam Sterling may head U.S. embassy in Baku

The Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassy in Baku, Adam Sterling, will be the U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Azerbaijan in case current ambassador Mathew Bryza leaves the post, Information Officer of the U.S. Embassy in Baku Keith Bean said.

Bean said according to diplomatic procedures, if ambassador leaves, the deputy chief of mission becomes the new Charge d'Affaires. Sterling served as Chargé d'Affaires for seven months preceding the arrival of Bryza to Azerbaijan.

The U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Bryza to the post in December 2010, after an 18-month absence of a U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan. According to the U.S. Constitution, the candidates nominated by the president must be approved by the Senate. However, as Congress is between sessions, the president may make appointments independently.

The presidential decree provides an opportunity to fulfill new duties immediately, without waiting for approval by the Senate. But if the senators do not approve the nomination before the end of the next session of Congress (November-December 2011), this decree ceases to operate. Thus, Bryza's term of office expires in this month and his nomination should be approved by the Senate.


/Trend/