American-Armenians were “appointing” the U.S. ambassador to Armenia for a year and a half. Now, for a whole year, they have been struggling against Matthew Bryza’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan. The developments round this appointment are part of the U.S. domestic policy, Alexander Iskandaryan, Director of the Caucasus Institute, told reporters on Sept. 25.

“This is a demonstration of Armenian lobbyism in the United States. American-Armenians are thus showing the ‘muscles’ by making it clear they can influence the appointment of ambassadors. Secondly, all these discussions cause Azerbaijan to publish hysterical articles in the U.S. press, which, in turn, is a bonus for American-Armenian lobbyists,” Iskandaryan said.

According to him, the developments surrounding Matthew Bryza’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan are, for the most part, a component of the U.S. domestic policy, with elements of foreign policy present as well. The whole stir over Bryza’s appointment is a chain of domestic political events, with the November elections of the U.S. Senate being the central component. Incidentally, Mrs. Barbara Boxer, who played a role in blocking Bryza’s candidacy, is going to run for Senate.

“She is a Democrat to represent California, where numerous Armenian voters reside. President Obama is a Democrat as well, and the Democrats’ election situation leaves to be desired. So the Armenian lobby has to work hard during the lections,” Iskandaryan said. He pointed out that Bryza’s appointment should not be expected for the next two months, but President Obama will persist.

A different outcome can be expected as well. If the Senator go on blocking the former mediator’s candidacy, President Obama may confirm the candidacy during the Senate’s Christmas holidays. “Let us wait until then and see, but I think President Obaman will go on insisting on Bryza’s candidacy,”