[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 19 (Monday, February 6, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          AMBASSADOR SULEYMANOV OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAN BOREN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, February 6, 2012

  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and welcome to 
Washington, DC Ambassador Elin Suleymanov of the Republic of 
Azerbaijan. On January 18 Ambassador Suleymanov presented his 
credentials to President Obama.
  Ambassador Suleymanov has a distinguished diplomatic career. Prior to 
his appointment as Ambassador, Mr. Suleymanov served as Azerbaijan's 
first Consul General in Los Angeles.
  While Azerbaijan has a new Ambassador to the United States, I bring 
to my colleague's attention that once again Azerbaijan lacks an 
Ambassador from the United States. After over a year of vacancy, 
President Obama nominated Matthew Bryza as Ambassador. After a stalled 
confirmation process President Obama appointed Matthew Bryza to the 
position in 2010. Unfortunately he was not given the opportunity for a 
confirmation vote in the Senate and has recently returned to the U.S.
  Azerbaijan is a key strategic partner to the U.S. by providing an 
important transportation route for supplies to our troops in 
Afghanistan and transit of Caspian oil and gas to the Mediterranean via 
the BTC pipeline. The relationship between the U.S. and Azerbaijan is 
too important not to have an Ambassador in place. As one of our few 
predominately Muslim allies we must do what is right.
  I encourage my colleagues to urge the Administration to nominate a 
new Ambassador to Azerbaijan and ask the Senate to act in the best 
interest of our national security and have an expeditious confirmation 
vote.

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