U.S. Embassy: Washington's policy towards Azerbaijan has not changed

Baku/09.05.21/Turan: The US Embassy in Baku responded to the request of the Azerbaijani service "Voice of America" regarding information on US military assistance to Azerbaijan, published in The Hill newspaper on May 3.

The Embassy's response to the inquiry on what military assistance the United States is providing to Azerbaijan and can provide in the future says, “The US policy towards Azerbaijan has not changed. Since 2002, successive administrations have renewed Amendment 907 each year to ensure security cooperation and continue assistance programs. The amendment was approved by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and entered into force on April 26.

US assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan is being closely monitored to ensure that they do not undermine efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully. It is aimed at strengthening regional stability and is in the interests of US national security.

“We cooperate with Azerbaijan in many areas, including the fight against terrorism and drugs, as well as the protection of critical energy infrastructure. Azerbaijan recently demonstrated the benefits of US security assistance by finding 480 packs of heroin hidden under a shipment of Iranian bitumen in the south, on the Iranian border, using X-ray scanners,” the US Embassy in Azerbaijan said.

In the American newspaper “The Hill” on May 3, it was reported that US President Joe Biden had warned Congress that the administration was extending the exemption allowing US assistance to Azerbaijan. US aid was limited due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In a statement to Congress on April 26, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed that aid to Azerbaijan "will not undermine or hinder efforts to find a peaceful solution between Armenia and Azerbaijan, nor will it be used to attack Armenia."

According to “The Hill”, the decision drew criticism from the Armenian community in the United States. They see it as a betrayal, as last month Biden, for the first time during the First World War, recognized the Ottoman killing of Armenians as "genocide."

Blinken also reaffirmed that US assistance “is necessary to support the United States' efforts to combat international terrorism or to prepare for operations by US military forces or coalition partners to prevent international terrorism; or important for the security of the borders of Azerbaijan”.

During a telephone conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on April 28, Blinken discussed a number of issues, including international efforts to "find a sustainable political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict for the benefit of all people in the region."