Azerbaijani Experts Critique Recent Statements by U.S. Legislators and the White House

A group of Azerbaijani experts has criticized recent statements by American lawmakers and the White House, questioning their impact on bilateral relations. Director of the Center for International Relations Farid Shafiyev agrees with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement that the U.S. Senate's omission of the 907th amendment, which restricts aid to Azerbaijan, negatively affects two-way relations. However, he finds it challenging to believe that this would influence Azerbaijan's potential in other areas, including defense.

On November 2, the U.S. warned Azerbaijan of serious consequences if it were to invade Armenia. In response, Baku stated that it had no intention of starting a war with Armenia. On November 16, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would not participate in a meeting between the heads of foreign ministries of Azerbaijan and Armenia, citing "baseless accusations" and U.S. support for "separatists" in Karabakh as reasons.

The 907th amendment, adopted on October 24, 1992, restricts U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan. In the same year, the city of Shusha in Azerbaijan was occupied, and Armenian armed forces committed the Khojaly massacre. "At that time, there was a different government in Azerbaijan. This shows that the approach of the United States is not related to the current or past governments but rather to Azerbaijan, which has faced Armenian occupation," Shafiyev noted.

The Bush administration failed when it attempted to bypass the 907th amendment in October 2001 to assist Azerbaijan in its operations in Afghanistan, demonstrating that the amendment could be both accepted and rejected when it served U.S. interests. This characterizes the U.S.'s two-way relationship with Azerbaijan, Shafiyev later continued.

He expressed surprise at the US position regarding the construction of the Baku-Nakhchivan route through Iran. "In his speech on November 22, US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, along with other criticism of Azerbaijan, stated that the US is interested in building a transport corridor between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Armenia, not Iran. But on October 23 of this year, an agreement on the construction of a road was signed between Armenia and Iran. How is it that US officials treat this normally, but oppose the establishment of ties between Azerbaijan and Iran?", asks Shafiev in a statement distributed by the Center.

Deputy Rasim Musabayov also expressed his thoughts on Facebook, stating that Baku is not afraid of the hollow threats of Western sanctions against Azerbaijan. He emphasized that Azerbaijan has many partners interested in neutralizing the unfounded, harmful, and Armenian-centric sanctions initiatives.

Ferhad Mammadov, president of the South Caucasus Studies Center, recalled the U.S. government's failed attempt in 2007 to obstruct the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars oil pipeline. "Now, the U.S. believes that the South Caucasus offers great prospects through communication, but if the road from Baku to Nakhchivan passes through Iran or is under Russian control, this is unacceptable. Additionally, for the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan, the West's understanding of a peace agreement is essential. What about the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? No American diplomat has ever said, 'Karabakh is Azerbaijan!'" Mammadov stated.

He views the U.S.'s approach to Azerbaijan as non-adequate.

Ali Karimli, the leader of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, emphasized the danger of Western sanctions and the danger of approaching Russia in response. He warned that the Azerbaijani army would ultimately triumph but at a heavy cost to human life. To prevent such a development, Karimli urged the government to swiftly sign a peace agreement with Armenia based on the Yerevan-Baku plan.

Opposition politician and political prisoner Tofiq Yagublu criticized the Azerbaijani government on social media, accusing them of engaging in a conflict not only with France but also with the United States. He expressed concern that the government's compliance with directives was exacerbating the situation. Yagublu argued that to improve the situation, Azerbaijan needed to sign a peace agreement based on the Yerevan-Baku plan and normalize relations with the U.S.