Domestic

Azerbaijan’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the US Yashar Aliyev was interviewed by the APA

- How do you assess the activity of the Azerbaijani embassy in the US in 2006?
- 2006 was a very significant year from the point of view of expansion and strengthening relations between Azerbaijan and the United States. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was on official visit to Washington at the invitation of the US President George Bush last year, which contributed to the development of bilateral relations, cooperation in political, economic, military and security spheres. Among the other important visits I would like to note the visit of Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva to Washington at the invitation of Laura Bush, contribution of this visit to the development of bilateral, in particular, humanitarian and cultural relations. Azerbaijan showed itself as a confident ally in global struggle of the US against terrorism in 2006, and close cooperation between the two countries continued. Taking into account the importance of the Caspian oil and gas resources and Azerbaijan’s being strategic country in the region in ensuring energy security of Western countries, dialogue on energy security between the two countries was given an impetus. This dialogue is expected to be held at the level of high-ranking members of states within the framework of meetings held once a year from 2007. As a result of successful development of the relations between the two countries, bilateral economic relations rose from cooperation to partnership, and the working group on Azerbaijan-US economic cooperation is substituted by Economic Partnership Commission. The first meeting of the commission will be held on February 7 in Baku. The Embassy also contributed to the development of these relations.
- What bilateral visits and documents are expected between Azerbaijan and the US in 2007?
- US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Colleen Graffy will visit Azerbaijan in the first ten-day of February as well as officials of US Department of State and Trade Ministry will visit the country in the framework of the first meeting of Azerbaijan-US Economic Partnership Commission. The Embassy is working on the visit of a group of members of the House of Representatives to Azerbaijan.
- Are you satisfied with the current state of Azerbaijan-US relations?
- Generally, we are satisfied with the development of the relations between the two countries but there is much to be done. There is some dissonance in bilateral relations from the point of view of quality. This is related to the Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act which has already turned anachronism. Its existence serves neither the interests of the US nor Azerbaijan. Regretfully, warm relations between our countries do not correspond to the recent events in the U.S Congress concerning our country. One of the new examples of it is the amendment to the law on Export-Import Bank (ExImBank) of the U.S Congress on non-financing of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project. It shows once more that we should increase our efforts to ensure the interests of our country and prevent steps directed against Azerbaijan. As for me, it is important for not only Azerbaijan, but also for bilateral relations with the U.S. we should develop cooperation in the filed of Security. The application of the Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act was suspended after September 11 events, and it gave opportunity for Azerbaijan to get assistances from the US in the frame of various programs in security sphere. The US assists Azerbaijan in implementation of reforms for adapting Azerbaijani military system to NATO standards, ensuring security of oil-gas fields and oil pipelines in the Caspian Sea, and preventing the spread of illicit drugs and strengthening of law–enforcement bodies. The weight of bilateral trade turnover between the two countries is $184 million. Certainly, it is not satisfactory, but mutual trade should be increased and diversification should be achieved. At the same time, promotion of US companies’ investments in Azerbaijani non-oil sector is necessary. In this case, the decisions to be adopted in the first meeting of the Economic Partnership Commission will play an important role.
- Are you satisfied with the level of the relations between Azerbaijani Diasporas and the Embassy? What measures do Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas take to prevent the propaganda of Armenian lobby?
- Our Embassy in 2006 continued to work with local Azerbaijani communities and societies to establish organized and efficient Diaspora in America. Thus, the Embassy closely took part in the events and ceremonies organized by our compatriots and assisted in implementation of relevant plans. At the same time, the representatives of the Diasporas were involved into the events organized by the Embassy. There is much opportunity to use the potential of the Diasporas, and the Embassy is taking necessary steps in this field. There are some Azerbaijani societies and circles in some states of the US, as for me, it would be better to establish Coordination or Consultation Council to co-ordinate their activity. Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora organizations continue to support each other in protest actions against Armenian policy and crimes as well as jointly appeal to congressmen and administration officials and partake in various events organized by Armenian Diasporas and deliver concrete facts to the participants.
- How do you react to US President’s signing the law that bans financing the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway project by Exim Bank?
- First of all, this document does not envisage non-financing of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project. The US Congress added an item to the law on Export-Import Bank about non-financing of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project by the Bank. This addition was included by a number of congressmen during the discussion of the law on Export-Import Bank. US President can impose a veto not on the addition, but on the whole law. We are against inclusion of this amendment into the law on Export-Import Bank. Taking into account that the countries implementing the project do not demand that the Export-Import Bank allocate funds and credits, it is absurd to include such amendment into the law.
- US Deputy Assistant of Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said that they do not support the railway project as it does not pass through Armenia. Has Azerbaijan objected to this position? What steps do you intend to take to prevent these sanctions in future?
- Of course, the issue was discussed with the officials of the Department of State and our country’s position was brought to attention. I would say the world is pragmatic. I think that the position of the Department of State is connected with the US economic disinterest in the project and its unwillingness to pursue balanced policy on Azerbaijan and Armenia as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group. I would like to mention that on the eve of realization of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project, to say exactly, in 2001 a group of congressmen submitted such an addition to Export-Import Bank on not financing the BTC. But this addition was not included in the law because of the efforts of the Administration. It is clear that realization of BTC project was of great importance for the US and therefore, the Administration prevented it.
As to the second part of the question, we must say that the decision is not a sanction and is not connected with Azerbaijan directly. This decision banned US Export-Import Bank from financing this project. The bank was surprised that it was not allowed while no appeal or initiative was made. Our embassy will always struggle against the adoption of the decisions that are contrary to Azerbaijan’s interests. Especially, taking into account that the US Congress adopted such kind of documents as a result of the activity of Armenian lobby in the Congress, our main priorities will be to develop relations with the 535-member Congress and propagate all the truths on our country and the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Congress.
- What steps are being taken to completely abolish the Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act?
- Complete abolition of the Section 907 is very urgent. Of course, the abolition of this amendment has been the main priority of our embassy and we continue to work in this field. I think still remaining Section 907 can not be regarded as weakness of Azerbaijan-US relations. This is one of the features of the US political system which remains dependant on the Congress and unfortunately, the Congress members take into account the interests of ethnic minorities they represent rather than the interests of the country while passing such decisions. In its turn, it strengthens opportunities for Armenian Diasporas to influence them. This is one of the factors that prevent to lift Section 907. In this case, one of the main goals is the abolishment of the Section 907 and in general, speedily organization of our Diaspora in America to ensure the interests of Azerbaijan in Congress.
- Pro-Armenian parliamentarians are strongly propagandizing the discussion of the false Armenian genocide in the Congress. What measures do you take to prevent this?
- Especially, change of the Congress leadership after the 2006 elections and new Speaker Ms. Pelosi’s statement before the elections that she will put the draft resolution on false “Armenian genocide� at the House increased confidence of Armenian lobby in adoption of this resolution by the Congress this year. That is why Armenian lobby works hard in order to adopt this resolution. Evidently, it is doubtless that the Administration will exert pressure on the Congress leadership and members not to adopt the draft resolution. Unlike the Congress members, the Administration understands that the adoption of this resolution does not serve US interests and it will only hamper the relations with Turkey. Of course, we express our stance on the issue during our meetings with the congressmen. Principally, we stress that they were indifferent to the genocide committed by Armenians in Khojali in late 20th century, and it is unjust to take such stance on the events that occurred early in the 20th century which resulted in the death of people from both sides.
- Is the issue on the Khojali genocide expected to be discussed in the Congress?
- The congressman from Indiana State Den Barton released statement on the Khojali genocide in 2005 and it made a stir in the congress. The congress members for the first time heard about the crimes committed by Armenians in late 20th century. Other importance of the statement was that the congressman showed that the image of “poor Armenians who are always subject to aggression� supported by Armenian lobby in the Congress is not real in fact. Such statements are very important from the aspect of recognition of the Khojali genocide in the Congress and this direction is always in the center of attention. We need definite time to put this issue to the agenda of the Congress and some measures should be implemented in this field simultaneously. One of the most important of these measures is to strengthen our Diaspora in America. It will not depend on the diplomatic position of the Congress, but on the positions of the electors of the congressmen. The works done by Armenian lobby for recognition of the false “Armenian genocide� for a long time is an example of it.
- How many congressmen support Azerbaijan in the US?
- At the present there are 16 members of the working group on Azerbaijan in the House of Representatives. Regrettably, the chairman of the working group, Republican Kurt Weldon lost in the elections last year. Bill Shuster from Pennsylvania was elected the new chairman of the working group. At present a group of congressmen plan to visit Azerbaijan. The number of the members of the working group on Azerbaijan is not enough yet; to increase the number of composition will be one of the priorities. But it does not mean that only the members of the working group support Azerbaijan. The senators - Richard Lugar fro Indiana, Sam Brownback from Kansas, Chack Heigel from Nebraska, and members of House of Representatives -Virginia Fox from North Caroline, Vick Snyder from Arkansas, Peter King from New-York and others many times supported Azerbaijan’s position by releasing various statements. /APA/

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