On September 21, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted in favor of the Administration's nominee, Matthew Bryza, to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA).

The 19-member Committee approved Bryza's nomination Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) voting against his confirmation.

The committee action sets the stage for consideration by the full Senate.

The vote comes as Azerbaijan has not had a U.S. Ambassador in place for some 15 months.