POLITICS
BRYZA IS A CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY - THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Baku, September 8 (AZERTAC). The Washington Times has published an article by Lorne Craner, President of International Republican Institute, about the United States` Ambassador-designate to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza.
The article says “as a former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, I have great regard for the group Reporters Without Borders. Unfortunately, the article co-written by its president, Jean-Francois Julliard ("Emissary entanglements," Opinion, Aug. 12) is not up to the organization`s usually high standards. In particular, the characterization of Bryza as someone unconcerned with human rights is simply incorrect.”
“In a decade of working with Mr. Bryza, I have found his work on behalf of the oppressed to be unremitting, skillful and creative,” Craner writes.
The author notes “since my 2004 return to the International Republican Institute, we have worked closely with Mr. Bryza as he went to similar great lengths to advance democracy in challenging countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan”.
He says America`s myriad interests in Azerbaijan will continue if Mr. Bryza is the ambassador in Baku.
“The United States - and Azerbaijan`s democrats - will be well-served if one of our most talented diplomats is confirmed as ambassador to Baku,” Craner says.