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BAKU: Azeri experts differ on US assistance to Karabakh

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  • BAKU: Azeri experts differ on US assistance to Karabakh

    Azeri experts differ on US assistance to Karabakh

    Zerkalo, Baku
    30 Sep 04

    Text of C. Bayramova report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 30
    September headlined "The USA arms Armenian separatists" and subheaded
    "Azerbaijani experts say what is behind US assistance to the 'NKR'"

    The rather tough position of the United States on the issue of
    allocating an equal amount of military assistance to Azerbaijan and
    Armenia in 2005 has caused mixed responses in the Azerbaijani public,
    not to mention yet another sign of "attention" to the so-called
    "Nagornyy Karabakh Republic", which is now expected to receive an
    American present to the tune of 2.5m dollars. In fact, the amount of
    assistance allocated by the overseas "benefactor" is almost twice as
    high as this year.

    Let's recall that the US Senate has already approved the allocation
    of 75m dollars in military assistance to Armenia and only 38m dollars
    to Azerbaijan.

    In a commentary to Zerkalo newspaper, political analyst Rasim Musabayov
    said that when deciding on the allocation of financial assistance,
    the USA is always governed by its own policy interests. The expert
    believes that an important role is played by the Armenian lobby,
    the importance and activity of which in the US higher echelons are
    quite high, all the more so because this is happening in the run-up
    to the presidential elections.

    "Keep in mind that not only the president, but also the whole Congress
    and two thirds of the Senate are to be re-elected. Obviously, senators
    and congressmen are interested in both the financial resources of the
    rich and influential Armenian lobby and its votes," the expert said.

    At the same time, Musabayov believes that Washington's allocation
    of financial assistance to Armenia should not perturb our public
    because the curve of such assistance is declining. On the other
    hand, he said with some indignation that the USA is showing double
    standards by observing parity in the allocation of military assistance
    to Azerbaijan, a NATO partner, and Armenia, which is under Russia's
    influence.

    "To all appearances, the proportions of such assistance will start
    changing in favour of Azerbaijan after the US presidential elections,"
    he said.

    Touching on Uncle Sam's attention to the "Nagornyy Karabakh Republic"
    [NKR], he said: "I think there should be no such assistance at all. On
    what grounds should the Americans help the Karabakh bandits who can
    only speak in the language of force? Because a lion's share of US
    assistance to Armenia and the "NKR" is eventually channelled into
    the continuation of the policy of occupation of Azerbaijani lands."

    However, Musabayov thinks that Azerbaijan should not dramatize the
    issue and ask for "as much as Armenia". On the contrary, we should
    tell the world that by asking America for economic aid, Armenia spends
    the money on the needs of its army.

    Political expert Vafa Quluzada sticks to a slightly different
    opinion. He explains the difference in the proportions of assistance
    by the fact that Azerbaijan possesses abundant natural resources,
    not by the Armenian lobby's influence. "Also, the US State Department
    is concerned about the economic future of Armenia which is almost
    on the verge of extinction as an ever-increasing number of Armenians
    are leaving the country every day," he said.

    The expert thinks that although Armenia is Azerbaijan's enemy, the USA
    looks at the problem from a different angle. By and large, America is
    not interested in this conflict because its own interests matter to
    it most of all. The USA is interested in strategic partnership with
    all the countries of the South Caucasus. Considering that, Azerbaijan
    should not envy Armenia's foreign aid. Quluzada added that the US
    financial assistance to Nagornyy Karabakh is only aimed at establishing
    peace in the region on the basis of international legal norms.

    "We need to mind our own affairs, strengthen the army and develop the
    economy. And it is not serious to focus on who has received how much
    from the USA," he said.
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