Senator Boxer announced she has placed a “hold” on U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan nominee Matthew Bryza, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports.

According to the ANCA, Boxer’s hold prevents the fast-tracked Senate consideration of the Bryza nomination, effectively blocking his confirmation for this ambassadorial post. Senator Robert Menendez took a similar action in 2006, preventing the appointment of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia nominee Richard Hoagland, who denied the Armenian Genocide during his Senate confirmation process.

“Thanks to Senator Boxer, U.S. diplomacy dodged a bullet today,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

“It would have been a serious mistake - both for U.S. strategic interests and for hopes of lasting peace in the Caucasus - to have sent Matt Bryza to Baku amid escalating threats of renewed war by Azerbaijan's leaders. Given his track record, he clearly would have been the wrong diplomat, at the wrong time, in exactly the wrong post. We are deeply grateful to Senator Boxer for preventing this grave diplomatic misstep and for all of Senator Menendez's leadership and hard work on this issue,” he stated.