U.S. Senate Committee Finally Holds Hearing For Biden's Nominee To Azerbaijan Ambassador Post

Washington D.C./14.06.23/Turan:    The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday held a hearing for President Biden's pick for Ambassador nominee to Azerbaijan, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports. If confirmed, the committee will be clearing the way for career diplomat Mark Libby's likely approval by the full Senate.

Libby, along with three other diplomats, on Tuesday answered questions from senators during a hearing examining their credentials to lead U.S. diplomatic missions to countries such as Azerbaijan, Djibouti, Malaysia and Palau.

In his testimony, Libby said, if confirmed, he would support U.S.' efforts to facilitate a just and sustainable peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"This tragic conflict has produced a bitter legacy of pain and mistrust," he said.

According to him, solving issues of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the rights and securities of everyone in the region, including those who are residing in Nagorno-Karabakh, "is vital to any durable and dignified piece."

"There is no military solution to this conflict and the U.S. must continue to condemn violence or threats of violence. But with the help of the United States and our European partners, the parties are closer than ever to reaching an agreement and if I am confirmed, I commit to help to get them there through active and persistent engagement in Baku," Libby said.

According to him, signing a peace deal "is only the first step".  "If confirmed, I will lead the Embassy Baku's inter-agency team to support the implementation of an eventual settlement," he said.

For Libby, successful implementation of a peace agreement would "pave a way for deeper ties between the U.S. and Azerbaijan" that will stabilize the region and prevent the competitors, "who seek to expand their malign influence by capitalizing on conflict".

A peace deal would allow Washington and Baku to take to the next level "much of what already works well in our relationship," as Libby put it: cooperation in counter-terrorism, border security, energy security, and maritime security serves the U.S. national interest and security.

"If confirmed,I will redouble our efforts in these areas," he said.

For Libby, democracy in human rights are core to U.S. foreign policy "not just because they reflect our values, but because they have proven to be the best foundation for peace and prosperity"

"If confirmed, I pledge to engage in a respectful, but very frank dialogue with a wide-range of Azerbaijani leaders, and citizens and to advocate persistently for those values, rights and freedoms in Azerbaijan, and in the wider region," he concluded.

Alex Raufoglu