Azerbaijan-US relations-cooperation in the war on terror
(content privided by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington, DC)
Azerbaijan is a staunch ally in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). While cooperation in anti-terrorism and counter-terrorism activities between two countries existed for many years, the September 11 attacks elevated collaboration to a profoundly higher level.
Azerbaijan was amongst the first countries to offer the United States unconditional support in the war against terrorism, providing its airspace and the use of its airports for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Azerbaijani troops are serving under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul and were praised for their performance by NATO officials. Since 1999 a peacekeeping platoon of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces has been participating in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo within Kosovo Force (KFOR).
Azerbaijan was the first Muslim nation to send its troops to serve shoulder-to-shoulder with US forces in Iraq. “I have been working with the Azerbaijani soldiers for six months and they have been fantastic asset for us...We haven’t had a single negative incident at the Haditha Dam on their watch,” said 1st Lt. Glenn Page of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment serving in Iraq.
The government undertook necessary measures to cut off the terrorists’ lifeline by freezing bank accounts of individuals and entities included in the 1267 UNSC Committee’s Consolidated List of terrorist groups and organizations. The National Bank and the Ministry of Justice discovered and froze accounts belonging to "Benevolence International Foundation" and "Global Relief Foundation,” two terrorist supporting charities.
Azerbaijan joined all 12 international conventions on counter-terrorism and reinforces regional cooperation on fighting terrorism through signing numerous agreements and participating in the activities of regional organizations such as NATO, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and others.
As a chair of the GUAM Working Group (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova) on the fight against terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking, Azerbaijan represented GUAM at the special meeting of the UN Counter Terrorism Committee with international, regional and sub regional organizations on March 6, 2003. In 2006 GUAM summit, the Heads of GUAM member-states signed the Kiev Declaration to found GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, thus transforming it into an international organization.
Azerbaijan works with the U.S., both bilaterally and multilaterally, through the GUAM framework to prevent illegal trafficking and to secure borders.
Azerbaijan is determined to continue its anti-terror and counter-terror efforts, and to make every contribution necessary to fight the menace of terrorism.
The U.S. and Azerbaijan jointly participate in the Caspian Guard program targeted at WMD proliferation, terrorism, and smuggling as well as protecting the energy development and transportation in the Caspian as part of the larger energy security agenda. Azerbaijan also is an active partner in international and U.S.-led non proliferation efforts.
Since Azerbaijan joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program in 1994, it has consistently integrated into the Euro-Atlantic security architecture, further deepening U.S.-Azerbaijani military to military cooperation.
Despite the adoption of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act by Congress in 1992 which prohibits direct assistance to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan has maintained strong relations with the United States. President Bush waives Section 907 annually after the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
In 1992, Congress adopted Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, barring all U.S. direct assistance to Government of Azerbaijan unless the President of the United States certifies to Congress that Azerbaijan is “taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.” This provision was adopted without any debate and before newly independent Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Washington.
Section 907 rewards the aggressor and punishes the victim. As a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, 20% of Azerbaijan is occupied, and one million out of a population of eight million Azerbaijanis are refugees and internally displaced. Both Bush Administrations and the Clinton Administration opposed this provision. While Section 907 has been somewhat modified in Foreign Operations Appropriations legislation since fiscal year 1997, and President Bush has exercised his waiver authority since it was given to him in 2002, there is no substitute for its repeal.
• Section 907 sanctions have never reflected political or diplomatic reality in the Caucasus region. Azerbaijan is one of the most pro-western countries in the former Soviet Union. Azerbaijan has adopted free market reforms, and has held several elections. More over, conditions that existed in 1992 when the sanctions were imposed have since changed dramatically. The following facts underscore this point:
• Azerbaijan is a key partner in the war against terrorism. While bilateral cooperation on terrorism-related issues between the two countries started well before September 11, they strengthened following immediate and unconditional support from Azerbaijan to coalition efforts in the war on terrorism.
• Azerbaijan deployed peacekeeping troops to Kosovo and Afghanistan, and as one of the original Coalition of the willing countries, was among the first to send troops to Iraq, becoming also the first Muslim country to do so.
• Azerbaijan opened up its energy resources for U.S. companies, thus diversifying the Western oil and gas supplies.
• Azerbaijan has made strong and internationally recognized commitments and demonstrable steps towards a permanent, peaceful solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, a requirement for the lifting of the sanctions.
• Neither the United States, the United Nations, any country in the world, nor any international organization recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh as either an independent state or as part of Armenia.
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