Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

AW: “Ser Artsakh” marks one year on International Children’s Day

Tatoyan Vazgen
June 1, 2023 Guest Contributor Nonprofit News 0

Ser Artsakh’s sweet little assistant Arpi among some of the many boxes prepared for Artsakh’s mothers and newborns

On this International Children’s Day, Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation announces that its “Ser Artsakh” initiative delivered 1,627 baby gift boxes (683 since the blockade began) to every child born in Artsakh since the foundation launched its initiative exactly one year ago. The foundation also intends to continue delivering these gift boxes in Artsakh as long as it is possible.

The “Ser Artsakh” initiative was launched on June 1, 2022 as a sign of support to the families who give new life to their homeland. It became more imperative to continue the initiative during the Artsakh blockade when baby supplies became and continue to be scarce. 

An Artsakh mother admiring some of the items in her “Ser Artsakh” box

“The Ser Artsakh program should not be perceived as a regular donation or charitable initiative. Instead, we created these quality gift boxes to honor brave families that live and continue to grow in difficult conditions in Artsakh,” said Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte, founder and president of the Anna Astvatsaturian Foundation, herself an Armenian refugee from Baku. Since the launch of the initiative, the foundation reports that the Diaspora’s reception was so positive that instead of its initial goal of six months, it extended to 12 months and beyond. 

Each gift box costs approximately $105 USD and includes 22 to 25 high-quality clothing and hygiene items for the baby and the mother. These items are either made or purchased in Armenia. It was important for the foundation to support the local economy. The initiative is based on donations, all of which are used for the “Ser Artsakh” boxes. Mothers are gifted with the boxes upon checking out of the maternity wards of one of Artsakh’s three maternity hospitals.

The foundation hopes to launch the “Ser Syunik” initiative in Syunik in the near future if the resources, support from donors and logistics align with its mission.





Dismantling of Nemesis Monument in Yerevan out of the question, reporter claims

Tatoyan Vazgen
Panorama
Armenia –

Turkey has not issued an ultimatum to Armenia to dismantle the Nemesis Monument in Yerevan, famous reporter Artem Yerkanyan claims.

The monument installed in the Armenian capital on 25 April pays tribute to participants of Operation Nemesis, a 1920s program of assassinations of Ottoman Turkish perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide.

Turkey closed its airspace to Armenian flights heading to a third destination in response to the unveiling of the monument. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced later that Turkey would take additional steps against Armenia if the Nemesis Monument was not dismantled.

“There is no need to whip up panic. Turkey has not issued an ultimatum to Armenia to dismantle the Nemesis Monument,” Yerkanyan wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

“Cavusoglu once again addressed the issue of the monument not on his own initiative, but in response to an Azerbaijani journalist’s question.

“Ankara has not officially laid out any demands to Yerevan regarding the monument through diplomatic channels. I think it’s safe to say that the issue of dismantling the monument is out of the question,” the reporter stated.

Artem Yerkanyan is a relative of one of the Operation Nemesis participants, Aram Yerkanyan.

MFA Armenia assesses Mirzoyan-Bayramov talks in Moscow constructive

Tatoyan Vazgen

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 19:13, 19 May 2023

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. On May 19, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov held negotiations in Moscow at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov, ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov presented their positions on the implementation of the trilateral statements of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia.

The sides continued the work on the draft agreement “On Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations”. A constructive exchange of views took place on topics where the sides still have disagreements.

The Ministers expressed their appreciation to the Russian side for hosting the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The sides agreed to continue the discussions.

The two Ministers also had separate meetings with Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov.

Lavrov: The Americans offer Armenia to “drive out the Russians”

Tatoyan Vazgen
Armenia – May 17 2023

Lavrov said this in an interview with Tsargrad TV channel, the transcript of which was published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

 

“A blatant provocation,” Lavrov added.

 

“In the fall of 2022 a document was prepared for the CSTO summit in Yerevan on the deployment of the CSTO observer mission on the territory of Armenia as requested by our Armenian allies. The document was fully agreed at the level of foreign ministers. Then, at the last moment, at the summit, Armenian friends asked to postpone its adoption. It remains on paper until now, and cannot be realized. But if Yerevan confirmed what was already agreed on and remained ready for its signing and entry into force, I am convinced that Armenia would have benefited and appeared in a more stable situation,” Sergey Lavrov said.

In Armenia, the tower of the Haghpat monastery, included in the UNESCO list, collapsed.

Tatoyan Vazgen
EDWARD SWENSSON

The tower of the fortress wall of the 10th-century Haghpat monastery complex located in northern Armenia collapsed on Sunday afternoon, the rescue service of the country’s Interior Ministry reported.

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According to the department, the incident was reported to the crisis management center of Lori region this morning. A fire brigade was dispatched to the scene.

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“It turned out that 12 square meters of one of the towers of the fortress wall of the Haghpat monastery complex (165 kilometers from Yerevan) with a total area of 20 square meters had partially collapsed. There is a danger of collapse of the remaining part. There were no casualties,” the telegram channel of the service says.

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According to the press service, the rescuers demarcated the territory. Located in the Lori region of Armenia, the Haghpat monastery complex was founded at the end of the 10th century. It was one of the spiritual and cultural centers of medieval Armenia. Included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

ANC of Southern Illinois welcomes establishment of Friendship City between Granite City and Ashan

Tatoyan Vazgen
 ANCA-Eastern Region ANCA News 0

Steve Hagopian, Mayor of Granite City Mike Parkinson, Stephen Hagopian and Der Taniel Manjikian

GRANITE CITY, Ill. – The city council of Granite City issued a proclamation last month establishing a Friendship City with Ashan in the Republic of Artsakh.

The proclamation on April 18, 2023 was spearheaded by Granite City Mayor Parkinson and sets the foundation for long-term cooperation between the two cities. It also provides opportunities to “engage in critical exchange of ideas to further Ashan’s support of economic stability, cultural preservation, and strong social ties in Artsakh,” as outlined in the proclamation.

Ashan is a border village in the province of Martuni in the Republic of Artsakh and has been severely impacted by Azerbaijan’s timeline of aggression, most recently their brutal blockade, which has surpassed 145 days and has hindered the delivery of vital necessities.

“Artsakhtsis, and more specifically the citizens of Ashan, have been subjected to the inhumane treatment of Azerbaijan for years. While resolute in our will to remain in our homes and on our indigenous lands, we have faced our fair share of hardships. This proclamation and the establishment of this Friendship City shows our people that the Diaspora and the communities in the Eastern United States have our back. With the support of the international community, we can continue to stand up to the enemy, amidst the threat of annihilation,” said Armen Balasanyan, mayor of Ashan. “We have endured over 145 days of blockade and one thing remains certain, our right to live on this land is unalienable,” he concluded.

Through the tireless efforts of ANC of Southern Illinois activists, this proclamation expresses that Granite City stands in solidarity with the people of Ashan – sending a clear message that their plight is not one to face alone.

“We are extremely proud of the stance that Granite City Mayor Parkinson took by issuing this Friendship City proclamation. This step builds on the longstanding relationship the Armenian community has built with the elected officials of Granite City. Through this proclamation, Mayor Parkinson powerfully demonstrates that he stands with the Armenians of Artsakh who are on the brink of genocide,” said Steve Hagopian, ANC of Granite City co-chair.

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The Armenian National Committee of America Eastern Region is part of the largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots organization, the ANCA. Working in coordination with the ANCA in Washington, DC, and a network of chapters and supporters throughout the Eastern United States, the ANCA-ER actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.


Leaders of all five ‘Stans plus Armenia in Moscow for May 9 victory parade

Tatoyan Vazgen
May 9 2023

The leaders of all five of Central Asia’s republics, plus Armenia’s PM, turned up for Russia’s May 9 Victory Day parade and stood by Putin. / bne IntelliNews
By Ben Aris in Berlin May 9, 2023

The leaders of Central Asia’s five republics as well as Armenia’s prime minister arrived in Moscow to stand alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin during the annual May 9 Victory Day parade, despite strong US pressure to downgrade and even break ties with Russia where possible.

The five leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, as well as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, were due to attend the emotionally charged event, one of the most important dates on Russia’s political calendar, to celebrate the Soviet WWII victory over Nazi Germany, a conflict referred to by Russians as the Great Patriotic War.

Putin links the victory over Adolf Hitler’s Nazis with his war in Ukraine, which he claims is being run by a Nazi regime.

The Central Asian and Armenian leaders’ decisions to attend the ceremony will raise eyebrows in Washington. It has been cranking up the pressure on the Central Asian states to at least substantially weaken ties with Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Central Asia in March to meet with the region’s foreign ministers, with both Western and Russian diplomats travelling the world to drum up support amid the fallout of the Ukraine conflict. 

Blinken has been putting pressure on the ‘Stans to enforce the Western sanctions regime imposed on the Kremlin. He received some promises, but little concrete action. Kazakhstan introduced some extra inspections on transit goods to “ensure they complied with the sanctions regime”. Blinken promised to provide “alternatives to Russian investment and routes for exporting goods,” but given their landlocked geographies and Russia’s proximity, there are few alternatives to trading with Russia for the ‘Stans.

Trade between the various Central Asian states and Russia continues to boom thanks to the war, bringing them badly needed economic windfalls. Blinken delivered a “prod rather than a shove” in the right direction, as the White House acknowledged that the Central Asian states have little choice but to maintain good relations with Russia as their economies remain joined at the hip. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been spooked by US threats of secondary sanctions and are trying to sail a difficult passage between maintaining good relations with Russia and not falling foul of Western sanctions.

The region has become a major transit route for banned goods entering Russia. Trade between the ‘Stans and Russia has in fact exploded in the last year, with Moscow seeking conduits for sanctioned goods.

The leaders’ attendance at the victory parade goes down as a major PR coup for Putin. He can use it to highlight Russia’s continued influence in its backyard. While all the leaders of the Central Asian and South Caucasus countries have moved to put some extra distance between themselves and the Kremlin, the attendance at the parade, always seen as very important to Putin as a mainstay of his nationalist message, underscores the realities of the ex-Soviet country’s dependence.

The unbroken relations highlight the importance of Eurasia in Russia’s new foreign policy concept, released last month. It singles out Eurasia as a key region for development. Eurasia is also a major plank for China’s foreign policy as it attempts to build better land links between Asia and Europe. Both China and Russia are pushing for the deeper integration of the Eurasian countries as part of efforts to build a BRICS bloc of non-aligned emerging markets that are independent of Western influence or control.

All five Central Asian countries declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, but their economies remain tightly interwoven with Russia’s.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was set to visit a memorial in Rzhev, a city west of Moscow in Russia’s Tver region. It was the site of heavy fighting during WWII. Many fighters from Central Asia are buried there.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov unveiled a memorial in Rzhev on May 8, saying it would “serve as a symbol of our eternal memory to all the heroes who fought for our future”. Japarov arrived in Russia on May 7 for bilateral talks with Putin and other officials. He was the only one of the five Central Asian leaders to announce his participation in the May 9 parade days ahead of his arrival. The others made the announcement they were going to Moscow on “a working visit” the day before.

The parade used to attract the attendance of a substantial number of international dignitaries, but since 2014 participation has dwindled to a few members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

In 2021, only Tajik President Emomali Rahmon attended the Victory Day parade, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, no foreign leaders attended the Great Patriotic War celebrations in Moscow following the start fo Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February.

Notably, Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, traditionally leads the May 9 Victory Day celebration in his country, which was ravaged during World War II, but this year he is in Moscow.

Putin was expected to hold talks with the visiting leaders before and after the May 9 celebration. Japarov’s office said the Kyrgyz leader was set to have a meeting with Putin on May 8 to discuss “current issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda, as well as the future of further development of mutually beneficial co-operation.”

Kyrgyzstan is part of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance in Eurasia that also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The country is also a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), a trading bloc dominated by Russia that also includes Belarus, Armenia and Kazakhstan. Both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have Russian military bases.

Kyrgyzstan’s Tulip Revolution took place in 2005 amid street protests driven by demands for political reforms. The uprising made it a beacon for fledgling democracy in a region more routinely stocked with post-communist authoritarians. Putin dismissed the pro-democracy events there and in other former Soviet republics, including in Georgia and Ukraine, as “colour revolutions” fomented by Western meddling.

Japarov was a surprise no-show at a gathering last year of the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in St Petersburg on Putin’s 70th birthday. Kyrgyzstan then abruptly cancelled CSTO training drills, which hawkish Russian lawmaker Konstantin Zatulin suggested was a reflection of Bishkek indulging in a “game” and wishing “not to fall under any spread of Western sanctions.” However, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan had just fought another of their periodic border conflicts and at the time of the St Petersburg celebration, Japarov was trying to put pressure on Putin to see things his way, rather than back Tajik President Emomali Rahmon who, coincidentally, was celebrating his 70th birthday at the same time as Russia’s leader.

Pashinyan’s attendance at Moscow’s Victory Day event goes down as a mild surprise. This is a leader who led the pro-democracy protests that ousted his country’s former kleptocratic government. He is seen as a liberal reformer. However, like with the Central Asian counties, Armenia’s economy is heavily dependent on Moscow, such as in terms of unreplaceable gas supplies. Russia also guarantees its security in the region, a big consideration at a time when Armenia’s conflict with Azerbaijan threatens to erupt into armed clashes once more. It is not hard to see why Pashinyan has gone out of his way to develop close ties with Putin since taking office.

https://www.bne.eu/leaders-of-all-five-stans-plus-armenia-in-moscow-for-may-9-victory-parade-278131/?source=russia

Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan disagree in Washington, but US Secretary of State optimistic

Tatoyan Vazgen
May 5 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Baku-Yerevan

Armenia-Azerbaijan talks in Washington

From May 1-4 talks were held in Washington between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, mediated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This was the longest round of negotiations between Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov. No joint statement was signed, however, with the parties limiting themselves to a joint press release:

“Ministers and their teams have made progress in mutual understanding on some articles of the draft bilateral agreement “On peace and the establishment of interstate relations”, while positions on some key issues still diverge.”

But Blinken was optimistic in his assessment:

“I hope that both ministers, like me, believe that a peace agreement is not far off, and it will provide a lasting peace for the peoples of Armenia and Azerbaijan. This peace will have a great impact not only on the life of the two peoples, but a regional and more global impact. It’s tough, but the desire to move forward is real, and as I mentioned we have made significant progress over the past few days. It seems that a final agreement is not far off, and we are determined to reach this agreement.”

Later, in an official press release from the State Department, the following addendum appeared:

“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed in principle with certain conditions and better understand each other’s positions on unresolved issues. We invited ministers to return to their capitals to share with their governments the view that, with additional goodwill, flexibility and compromise, an agreement is within reach. They will continue to enjoy the full support and involvement of the United States in their efforts to secure a lasting peace.”

  • Armenian-Azerbaijani talks in Washington, but what comes next?
  • “The language of threats and terror does not work with Azerbaijan” – Ilham Aliyev
  • Consequences of the ongoing blockade in Nagorno-Karabakh

The Washington Marathon is over, I think with less than the expected results for the mediators. I am convinced that there was an expectation that at least a joint statement would be signed, but, as expected, progress on the most important issues could not be achieved:

on the Baku-Stepanakert direct talks mechanism and various views of the parties regarding it,
lack of agreement on maps and
lack of agreement on guarantees or mechanisms for the peace agreement.
Despite Secretary Blinken’s optimistic comments, I have no idea how the parties can reach agreement on these three key issues. Especially with regard to direct negotiations.”

“Aliyev is trying to cancel the negotiation process mediated by America,” Azerbaijani expert Tatevik Hayrapetyan said of a recent interview given by the President of Azerbaijan.

“As expected, the Washington round of Mirzoyan-Bayramov talks turned out to be ineffectual. I think that the negotiations in Washington were doomed to such an outcome for at least two reasons:

1) the Armenian-Azerbaijani institution of direct dialogue cannot work effectively, if only because there is a power imbalance between Yerevan and Baku, where Azerbaijan is trying to impose its entire agenda on Yerevan;

2) we may like or dislike Russia’s policy, but it is obvious that without the participation of Moscow it is impossible to achieve a resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Russia is not only the main moderator in the South Caucasus, a key mediator in this conflict, but also, in fact, a party and participant in this conflict, which also follows from the logic of the November 9 [2020] tripartite statement on the cessation of hostilities in Karabakh.

Of course, it does not follow from what has been said that the Moscow round of talks will be crowned with success. In general, it is difficult to imagine the resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations without consolidated international efforts in this direction. And those cannot be in the conditions of a global conflict between Russia and the West, international chaos.

This situation, of course, creates new risks for the security of Armenia, such as the expulsion of Armenians from Artsakh.”

The Prime Minister of Armenia talked about the signing of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations.

“A statement of the persistence of differences on key issues means that Aliyev is still firmly resisting, hoping that the Kremlin, after the meeting in Washington, will arrange another “St. Petersburg”, as it was after Vienna in 2016, put pressure on Yerevan, help Baku in once again slipping out from under American pressure, after which he will give another go-ahead to lawlessness in the interests of Moscow and Baku.

And this means that Yerevan MUST prevent this.

And this means leaving Moscow alone with its beloved Baku, thereby contributing to the consolidation of pressure on Baku, bringing its positions closer to Washington and Brussels.

But we are told from Prague that “a visit to Moscow is planned” [during an official visit to the Czech Republic, Pashinyan himself announced this].

Why a visit to Moscow?

I want to warn you: your incomprehensibly beloved Moscow, where you are going to go, went over your agent Serzhik [former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan] and did not spare him. Don’t think that it will spare you.

In short, you should not crawl back into this hole. Theres nothing for us there.

Meanwhile, what is called the peace agenda is a stubborn struggle for peace against the enemies of the world, and above all, against the aspirations of Moscow, which is the main enemy of the world.”

Azerbaijani MP Rasim Musabekov explained the lack of a documented agreement after the talks in America with Russian pressure on Yerevan:

“At the talks in Washington, Armenia balked at its demands and frustrated the initialing of the agreement with Azerbaijan. The continuation of negotiations in Moscow was announced. From there, the encouragement followed. The repair of the main gas pipeline in the Stavropol Territory has been completed and gas supplies to Armenia interrupted on May 1 have been restored.”

The MP also expects “an encouraging gesture from the Kremlin in the form of the beginning of the passage of Armenian trucks with agricultural products through the Lars crossing, which was stopped during the ministerial meetings in Washington.”

In Aliyev’s interview with state television, the Azerbaijani President talked about issues related to resolving the conflict between his country and Armenia

The mountain gave birth to a mouse. This is how Azerbaijani political scientist Farhad Mammadov summed up the talks in Washington.

“Progress… finish line… exhausted Blinken… And that’s it?! And all from the inconsistency of the position of the Americans themselves! At one time, they did not point to the occupier, did not apply sanctions against Armenia, but, on the contrary, supported it financially and politically.

There are topics on which there is no common understanding. Then Baku will take more steps to finalize it before the next meeting. The diplomatic battle will continue in Russia, it will be interesting…

The Americans need Azerbaijan to give up the enclaves… as I understand it from Pashinyan’s statement made in Prague – that’s exactly what… to help Pashinyan retain power…

And the Karabakh Armenians will remain in limbo…” he added.

Azerbaijani expert on conditions for peace – and why expectations of concluding an agreement are unjustified

Former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugarov noted that the negotiations were difficult.

“At best, they could sign some text. Because, logically, after the meeting of foreign ministers in Washington, the heads of state should meet to sign the prepared document. After such a long meeting, a meeting of the leaders of the countries is expected. It is sensed that the United States intends to put a political end to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, because the Americans put on the negotiating table the question of a fundamental solution to the problems of the post-conflict period.”


End American Military Aid to Azerbaijan: Why are we funneling money to a corrupt despotism in a far-off land?

Tatoyan Vazgen
May 3 2023

End American Military Aid to Azerbaijan
Why are we funneling money to a corrupt despotism in a far-off land?

Eldar Mamedov
May 3, 2023

As President Joe Biden commemorated the Armenian genocide on April 24, his administration continues military cooperation with Azerbaijan. Emboldened by its military victory over Armenian forces in 2020, Azerbaijan is pressing its advantage to impose a coercive “peace” on the South Caucasus. The U.S. has no business in helping Baku achieve its goals, in any way or shape, much less with the American taxpayers’ money.

On April 23, just the day before the commemoration of the Armenian genocide, Azerbaijan established a checkpoint on the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian-majority enclave within the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, with Armenia through the so-called Lachin corridor. This was done in a blatant violation of the provisions of the trilateral statement between Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan that put an end to the war in 2020.

According to the deal, Russian peacemakers were deployed to the region, ostensibly to guarantee its implementation, including securing the road in question. Yet they appeared to look the other way as Azerbaijan proceeded with blocking the corridor. Regional analysts suggest Moscow’s collusion with Baku. Even in the unlikely case that Azerbaijan acted without at least a prior heads-up with the Kremlin, this development only highlights the unreliability of Russia’s claims to play a stabilizing role in the region.

The erection of the checkpoint is a culmination of a months-long policy of isolation of the Karabakh Armenians, mixing blockade of the enclave and threats of what could amount to ethnic cleansing. Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the United Nations ordered Azerbaijan to end its blockage of the Lachin corridor. This binding order demanded that Azerbaijan “take all measures to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the corridor in both directions,” according to M.P. Arusyak Julhakyan.

Not only did Azerbaijan ignore that order, but its autocratic president, Ilham Aliyev, issued fresh threats against the local indigenous Armenian population to accept Azerbaijan’s citizenship or leave the territory. Given that Azerbaijan is a hereditary dictatorship that scores at the very bottom of international democracy, human-rights, and transparency rankings, this ultimatum essentially amounts to a demand that the local population submit to a despotic rule that denies rights even to Azerbaijan’s own citizens.

Add to that an anti-Armenian speech at the official level in Baku—recently, Azerbaijani parliament called the European citizens of Armenian origin a “cancerous tumor.” Since Baku has completely ruled out any form of even a limited cultural autonomy for the Karabakh Armenians, it can only be concluded that it is creating conditions that would push them to leave their ancestral homes in what could qualify as ethnic cleansing.

The U.S. State Department expressed its deep concern about the actions of Azerbaijan. Yet Washington can go further and impose real costs on Baku by ending military cooperation with the country. To accomplish that, the U.S. should only follow its own legislation by invoking the Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which was adopted in early 1990s to block any U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. In fact, this is what a bipartisan group of sixty-nine members of the House of Representatives is currently demanding.

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That provision was waived for the first time in 2002 and annually ever since, in the context of the so-called “Global War on Terror.” The GWOT created a whole sprawling network of relationships with unsavory regimes in the wider Middle East judged helpful in fighting terrorism. According to Security Assistance Monitor, a Washington watchdog, in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 alone Azerbaijan was the beneficiary of more than $100 million worth U.S. security aid.

With the GWOT winding down and the U.S. reorienting towards great power competition, there is no reasonable justification for keeping those relationships intact. The absurdity of waiving the Section 907 in 2023 is underscored by the fact that it was introduced when it was the Azerbaijani territories adjacent to Nagorno-Karabakh that were occupied by the Armenian forces while today it is Azerbaijan that is destabilizing the region.

When Secretary of State Blinken was pressed on this point by the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, he offered only a weak defense: The $700,000 set aside for Azerbaijan for the next fiscal year would be used to train Azerbaijani officers, in the hope, as Blinken put it, of fostering their development of a “Western orientation.” He didn’t elaborate on what exactly that meant, but if “Western orientation” is synonymous with respect for international norms, then years of U.S. assistance, on the face of it, missed the mark: The Azerbaijani military has committed amply documented abuses against Armenian prisoners of war and civilians. Baku’s official rhetoric and actions do not augur any positive change in the near future.

Equally groundless is the assumption that such aid will make Azerbaijan more receptive to American interests. Azerbaijan’s relationship with the West is strictly transactional, mainly based on leveraging the country’s (limited) oil and gas reserves as an alternative to the Russian supplies. Yet while hawkish Washington cheers on Azerbaijan, think tanks like the Hudson Institute are busy pitching the country as a bulwark against Russian and Iranian influence and thus deserving of U.S. support. In reality Baku is very careful not to antagonize Moscow.  Azerbaijan’s government is fully entitled to conduct its foreign policy in accordance with what it sees as the country’s national interest, but there is no reason why the U.S. has to fund it.

Blinken then produced a supposed trump card justifying continued military cooperation with Azerbaijan—the threat from Iran, with which Azerbaijan has a long border that “needs to be protected.” It is unclear why protecting Azerbaijan’s border with Iran should be any of the U.S.’s business. Azerbaijan has intense security relationships with Israel and Turkey and is (or should be, at any rate) more than capable of defending its own borders.

Of further note, Azerbaijan is far from blameless in its tensions with Iran. Since the war, Azerbaijani leadership has only intensified its irredentist claims against both Armenia and Iran. To the extent that the United States should get involved, it needs to call on both Azerbaijan and Iran to resolve their differences diplomatically rather than one-sidedly supporting a government that is actively stoking tensions.

The Biden administration needs to act coherently with the spirit of its commemoration of the Armenian genocide and stop any military aid to Azerbaijan. Such support neither reflects American values nor advances American interests.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eldar Mamedov is a foreign policy analyst based in Brussels.