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US Azerbaijani and Turkish Diaspora start campaign against Iran’s pressure on Azerbaijan

17 February 2012 11:28 (UTC +04:00)

The US Azerbaijani Network, a main organizer called an action, to make sure the Congress and US media are more aware about the recent events and stand strongly with their regional ally.

â€œThe past weeks saw a rapid deterioration of relations between the international community and Iran, which has adversely affected regional allies of the United States, Israel, and the West. Iran stepped up aggressive rhetoric and propaganda against Azerbaijan, a staunch US and Israel allyâ€, read the letters.

The authors remind that, Azerbaijan, which is the size of the state of Maine, and itself a victim of armed aggression, occupation and genocidal policies by Armenian military (such as in Khojaly in February 26, 1992), has been trying to be on good terms with its powerful southern neighbor, as Iran has a significant population of ethnic Azerbaijanis living there (up to 30% of the population), who are persecuted and discriminated for their ethnic and linguistic "differences" with the ruling Persians. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan wants peace and stability on its borders and has centuries of bond and friendship with all people of Iran, after all, Azerbaijanis have ruled Iran and other adjacent lands for a millennium.

â€œHowever, Iranian government TV and radioâ€™s illegal broadcasts continue into Azerbaijan, its pseudo-religious and pan-Iranian propaganda does not seem to subside, and it continues to make threats and various unfriendly gestures towards Azerbaijan, that include killing of journalists such as Rafik Tagi in Baku in November 2011 and attempting to blow up Israeli embassy in Baku in January 2012â€, they note.

According to the Diaspora members, â€œone should consider the reasoning behind Iranian governmentâ€™s thinking, succinctly put by Michael Eisenstadt: â€œIran tacitly supported Armenia in its war with Azerbaijanâ€ â€“ because Iranian government wants to see Azerbaijan weak and failed. Armenia and its enterprises, which have been previously sanctioned by the U.S. Government for nuclear proliferation and weapons trading with Iran, are occupying Karabakh region, which is 16% of Azerbaijan on the border with Iran, turning Karabakh into an uncontrolled area and a black hole for drug trade, weapons trafficking and other illegal activitiesâ€.

â€œAnd when, as we recently learned from media interviews, the chief of Azerbaijanâ€™s Border Service requested to meet with his Iranian counterpart, over the unnecessary killing of an Azerbaijani border guard by Iranian border guards in July 2011, the Iranian general has not responded, for several months now. It is hard to maintain peaceful and healthy relations when officials cannot even meet, or when one sideâ€™s generals make various unhealthy and unheard of racist statements about Azerbaijanisâ€™ â€œblood in veinsâ€, or about the 12th century great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjaviâ€.

The letters also remind that there are numerous statements in official state Iranian media since 1991 breakup of USSR about annexing Azerbaijan to Iran, and other attempts to deny Azerbaijan its right of existence and its own history â€“ just like it is being done to the ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran itself.

â€œAs a consequence, it is the moral responsibility of the US Government and all branches of government is to show their support to their strategic ally in that turbulent region and stand strong with Azerbaijan. Such support should range from statements and resolutions in support of sovereign and independent Azerbaijan, to supplying it with defensive systems such as Patriot air-defense systems to protect Azerbaijanâ€™s energy infrastructureâ€, say the Diaspora.