U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher on upcoming hearing: "It will help identify areas of concern and cooperation"

U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, commented on this week's subcommittee hearing on Azerbaijan, saying that it "will help identify areas of concern and areas where cooperation [between US and Azerbaijan] could be increased."

"The recent closure of the Baku bureau of Radio Free Europe Radio/ Radio Liberty is not the way to encourage relations between our two nations...
We will discuss what actions should be taken to ensure continued good relations,” he stated, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

The hearing titled "Azerbaijan: U.S. Energy, Security, and Human Rights Interests" will be held on February 12, with expected testimonies by former US Ambassador Richard Kauzlarich, pro-Azeri government analyst Svante Cornell and Woodrow Wilson fellow Audrey Altstadt.

The move comes at the time of the worst relations between Baku and Washington during past decade, according to some local analysts, amid Azeri government's crackdown on journalists, civil society members, and attacks against the U.S.

Some observers in Washington, D.C., including Amb. Kauzlarich, have called Obama Administration for sanctions against the Azeri government.
State Department officials recently made it clear that they will continue to support independent voices in Azerbaijan while seeking a way to “engage constructively” with the Azeri government.

The congressional hearing is scheduled on the very same day when a new U.S. ambassador Robert Cekuta will arrive in Baku.

In his statement on upcoming hearing, Congressman Rohrabacher added: “Azerbaijan is a country in a tough part of the world; it is surrounded by several countries that are not friendly to its interests. The U.S. has worked to help Azerbaijan grow its economy and we are grateful for the security cooperation that has developed. Yet, in the areas of human rights and democracy, progress has not been as steady, and has even backslid."

A.Raufoglu
Washington, D.C.