Baku/03.01.19/Turan: In a last minute move, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Earle (Lee) Litzenberger to be the next Ambassador to Azerbaijan, just hours before the close of the 115th Congress, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
In total, the Senate last night cleared 23 ambassadors by voice vote.
Senate confirmation clears the way for Amb. Litzenberger, a career member of the senior foreign service, class of minister-counselor, to head to Baku in the coming days. He will take up the post after almost nine months delay since Robert Cekuta vacated the post.
Litzenberger's most recent job at the State Department was Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. He told senators earlier in October that he believed Azerbaijan's integration with the West "can and must go beyond energy pipelines, exports, and security cooperation."
"The United States must also continue to work closely with Azerbaijan on advancing democratic and open economic principles through strong rule of law, transparency, and the protection of human rights and dignity. It is in Azerbaijan"s interest to undertake these reforms, both to ensure long-term stability and to unleash the full potential of its people and economy."
Litzenberger had also pledged to seek to meet with a wide range of Azerbaijani society, in order to share American values and learn more about Azerbaijan"s rich history and culture.
A Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
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