"Without accountability, there isn`t justice"  - Bob Menendez

ArmInfo. "Without accountability, there isn't justice," asserted Senator Bob Menendez  (D-NJ), the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when  discussing his concerns about the atrocities committed by Azerbaijan  during the nomination hearing today of Kristina Kvien, a Career  Member of the Senior Foreign Service, as the next U.S. Ambassador to  the Republic of Armenia, as well as current U.S. Ambassador to  Armenia Lynne Tracy, who is being considered to serve as the  Ambassador of the Russian Federation, reported the Armenian Assembly  of America (Assembly).     U.S. Ambassador to Russia Nominee Lynn Tracy Highlights Strength of  Democracy in Armenia

After recognizing Ambassador Tracy's nomination as U.S. Ambassador to  Russia, Chairman Menendez outlined the tense relations with Russia  and its internal turmoil, recognizing the "high profile and tough  job" and asked if she was prepared for it.   Citing her experience in the region, Ambassador Tracy said it was a  "tremendous honor" to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia since  2019, during a time of "enormous opportunity but of tremendous  challenge."

"During my [time] we were in a period of active conflict, a war that  brought tremendous pressures on our Embassy and on our staff," while  at the same time praised Armenia's democracy specifically, reflecting  on the "free and fair" 2018 elections when Nikol Pashinyan was  elected as Prime Minister, followed by "one of the greatest stress  tests that a democracy can endure, a war," in 2020, and still  maintaining free and fair elections in 2021. 

Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) asked Ambassador Tracy what the perception  is of the Armenian people with regards to Russia, President Putin,  and the Ukrainian invasion.

Ambassador Tracy stated that there is "real concern" among former  Soviet countries about the "future of their independence and  sovereignty and territorial integrity." 

In regards to Armenia, Ambassador Tracy stated that "Armenians are  saying their previous relationships with Russia are not meeting the  needs of Armenia today, and how can the U.S. be more helpful to  Armenia as it continues seeking a more democratic and a more secure  future." Ambassador Tracy highlighted that the U.S. and Armenia are  working together, with the support of Congress, and on a bilateral  basis.

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) requested that Ambassador Tracy draw on  her experience in Armenia in terms of Russia "thriving in neighboring  countries with weak rule of law."

Ambassador Tracy replied that the United States' investments in  Armenia, whether in development, economy or in the people, have been  of "great importance," particularly in relation to the "homegrown"  democratic elections in 2018. 

"The [Armenian] people see what Russia represents and they see how  the country is run," said Ambassador Tracy. "We can continue to  invest in Armenia [and other former Soviet countries] to act as a  hedge against the malign model of what Russia represents."

Chairman Menendez told Ambassador Tracy that the State Department  hearing on the South Caucasus that took place on November 16, 2022,  was the "most disappointing hearing I've ever conducted." He asked if  she had seen the videos of the execution of Armenian soldiers by  Azerbaijan. 

Ambassador Tracy stated that she had seen the videos and referred to  it as "one of the most sickening things I've seen in my life,"  especially regarding the mutilation and desecration of a female  Armenian soldier. She said she reached out to Armenia's Human Rights  Ombudsman, Kristina Grigoryan, who has worked on authenticating and  documenting the videos. Ambassador Tracy emphasized that she is  "focused on accountability" with respect to the execution of Armenian  POWs and civilians.  

When asked by Chairman Menendez as to whom she reported the graphic  videos of executed Armenians, Ambassador Tracy stated that she  reported them to the State Department. Referring to the November 16,  2022 hearing, Chairman Menendez said that "no one knew about the  videos, or in the case of Ambassador Reeker, did know but no one did  anything to authenticate it." 

"We need our ambassadors in places of conflict to be able to pursue  what the truth is, so that we as policyholders can then decide what  we do about that truth," continued Chairman Menendez. "Without  accountability, there isn't justice."

During the day's second panel, Chairman Menendez stated that Kristina  Kvien has been nominated to be the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia during  a challenging moment for the country.

"We've seen recent attacks from Azerbaijan, videos of what appear to  be war crimes, as well as a longstanding humanitarian crisis brought  on the war in Nagorno-Karabakh," stated Chairman Menendez.  He  continued that he was "incredibly disappointed" by the State  Department's responses during the November 16 hearing, and speaking  directly to Kvien, said that it is her "responsibility to make sure  the American people do not look the other way when we uncover human  rights violations and atrocities committed against Armenia. 

"Armenia is connected to the U.S. by the love and concern of  countless Armenian American families," concluded Chairman Menendez in  his opening remarks. "This is a diasporan community that is on the  edge of hope and peace and the terror of ethnic cleansing.

"In her opening statement, Ms. Kvien said she "commits to working  closely with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Members of  Congress to advance U.S. interests in Armenia."

"I pledge to work with you to strengthen Armenian's democracy,  security, and economy. I would also continue the efforts of my  predecessor [Ambassador Lynne Tracy] to support Armenia's  anti-corruption initiatives, civil society, independent media,  business development, regional integration, and efforts to counter  malign influence," said Kvien, who stated that she would also work  with Armenians to help "foster an impartial, independent judiciary  and to safeguard respect for freedom of expression."

Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Kvien said a peaceful  settlement is "essential to a more secure and prosperous future, for  Armenia and for the South Caucasus. The U.S. is working through  bilateral and multilateral channels to help the sides achieve a  peaceful, lasting negotiated settlement of the conflict based on the  principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act."

Kvien said she grew up in Fresno, California, home to one of the  largest Armenian diaspora communities in the U.S., and that she  learned from her "teachers and friends of Armenian heritage" about  the Armenian Genocide and if confirmed would "commit to doing  everything in my power to remember the victims of the Armenian  Genocide, and to support a peaceful future for Armenians and  encourage ongoing normalization discussions between Armenia and  Turkey." As the hearing continued, Chairman Menendez expressed his  frustration with the State Department, as they call on "all sides,"  even when one side is the aggressor, as "Azerbaijan is in Armenia."

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) reiterated the importance of "calling  out aggression when we see it." 

"It was very well-documented in September by independent press  sources that Azerbaijan launched attacks and engaged in atrocities,"  stated Senator Van Hollen. 

Speaking directly to Ms. Kvien, Senator Van Hollen stated that "in  order to be a credible mediator, in my view, you need to at least  begin with the facts and to publicly state them. You'll be heading  off to a very important country in a very conflicted part of the  world, and I hope you'll be able to call out the facts when you see  them." 

Chairman Menendez asked Ms. Kvien, if confirmed, if she would "lead  Embassy efforts to support the documentation of alleged atrocities by  Azerbaijan committed against Armenians during this recent aggression,  which include Azeri forces shooting unarmed Armenians, executing  Armenian soldiers, and mutilating a female Armenian soldier." 

Kvien confirmed she had seen the "horrific videos," and will "do her  best to help with any requests the Armenians have to document the  videos." 

Pressing further, Chairman Menendez said he does not want the  requests to be from Armenians, but instead for the U.S. to be  proactive to make a determination when it comes to important  decisions, like the continuous waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM  Support Act. 

"We should know whether Azerbaijan is committing these types of  actions so we can determine whether Section 907 should be waived,"  said Chairman Menendez. "I want an Ambassador who will proactively  help us determine whether these mutilations and executions are true  and to be able to tell the State Department, and this Committee, so  then we as policymakers can make a decision. Can I depend upon you to  do that?" 

Ms. Kvien stated that "accountability for crimes of this nature are  very important" to her, and she will be sure there is accountability. 

Kvien also confirmed that she would commit to a needs assessment  regarding the 100,000 displaced Armenians as a result of the 2020 War  on Artsakh, and the current needs of the people who still reside in  the region.

Ms. Kvien, who joined the Foreign Service in 1992, has served as an  Economics Officer at the Embassy of the United States, Manila, and at  the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in Washington, D.C.,  focusing on European Union and issues related to the Organisation for  Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She also served as the  United States Mission to the European Union in Brussels as an  Economics Officer, from 2001-2005, and then was transferred to the  Embassy of the United States, Moscow, where she worked on environment  and energy issues. Kvien went on to become Director for EU Affairs,  EU Economies and Caspian Energy for Ukraine and Belarus at the United  States National Security Council. Most recently, Kvien served at the  Embassy of the United States, Paris, prior to her posting to the U.S.  Embassy in Kyiv in May 2019.

"The Assembly commends Chairman Menendez for leading a thorough  hearing for both Ambassador Tracy, and nominee Kristina Kvien," said  Assembly Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan.  "Ensuring  accountability for the heinous human rights abuses committed by  Azerbaijan, strongly supporting Armenia's democracy, and safeguarding  security of the Armenian people from the specter of another genocide  are fundamental goals we all share," Khaloyan continued. "The  Assembly also appreciates Senators Romney, Van Hollen, and Murphy for  their remarks regarding Armenia during today's nomination hearing."