Matthew Bryza had his swearing-in ceremony in Washington - UPDATE

Azerbaijani ambassador to the United States Yashar Aliyev attended the oath taking ceremony. Spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Baku Keith Bean said that the White House has resent Bryza's nomination for the Senate approval.

He said that it means that Bryza after the appointment by the U.S. President Barack Obama will serve as the U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan by the next session of the Senate (by December 2011).

If the Senate approves his nomination at the next hearing, Bryza will head a diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan for the whole period, that is, for three years, Bean said.

"Ambassador's candidacy was transferred to the Senate, as President Obama is interested in the traditional passage of appointment procedures by ambassador," Bean said.

It was previously reported that Bryza will arrive in Baku in early February. The post of U.S. Ambassador in Baku had been vacant since the previous ambassador, Anne Derse, left it after completing of her diplomatic mission in July 2009.

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11:27

Matthew Bryza, newly appointed United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan, had his Swearing-In Ceremony at the State Department January 27 at 1pm Eastern Time, (10 pm Baku time), according to the State Department.

The ceremony took place, although many governmental offices were closed due to weather condition. The ceremony was closed to press. Secretary Hilary Clinton and Under Secretary William Burns attended the ceremony. Bryza is expected to arrive in Baku within two weeks.


/APA, Trend/