Senator Richard Lugar: Matthew Bryza is a high class diplomat

Matthew Bryza is a diplomat of high quality, said Senator Richard Lugar to journalists Tuesday after a business meeting between the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of U.S. Senate and candidates nominated for U.S. ambassador to various countries.

"Matthew Bryza is a diplomat of high class, in which I hope very much" said deputy chairman of Commitee Lugar.

At Tuesday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting, Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, tabled the nomination of Bryza to be the next ambassador to Azerbaijan, deferring to a request for a delay from Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, Foreign Policy magazine reported.

"I suppose that the State Department, together with Senator Boxer will consider the rebuttal and elimination of her concerns," said Lugar.

Regarding the concerns over a year-long vacancy for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan and its possible impact on the Azerbaijani-U.S. relations, Lugar said that such situation inevitably impacts bilateral relations and noted his constant efforts taken to change this situation.


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