SECTION 907 LIMITING US-AZERI CO-OP

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 9 2006

The partial repeal of Section 907 to the Freedom Support Act restricts
cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States, Azerbaijani
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev said in a meeting with the visiting US
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Jim McDougall on Thursday.

Section 907 bans direct US assistance to the government of Azerbaijan.

Abiyev said bilateral relations are developing in all areas. The
unresolved status of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh is a major obstacle to the development of
Azerbaijan’s military cooperation with the United States and NATO,
he said.

"We will never accept the occupation of our territories by Armenia.

The Azerbaijani armed forces will liberate the occupied lands if the
conflict is not resolved in peace," the minister said.

McDougall concurred that the provisions of Section 907 actually
restrict cooperation between the two countries.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress