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Iran: US military officials in Azerbaijan

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  • Iran: US military officials in Azerbaijan

    PRESS TV, Iran
    May 20 2007


    US military officials in Azerbaijan
    Sun, 20 May 2007 21:59:50


    A military delegation from the United States has traveled to
    Azerbaijan to boost military cooperation with the former soviet
    republic.

    The delegation was led by Chief of Staff of the Oklahoma Air National
    Guard Brigadier General Robert D Ireton.

    Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Colonel General Safar Abiyev welcomed
    the military delegation on Saturday and met with the American
    officials.

    Abiyev said Baku keeps bilateral relations with the US within
    'Partnership for Peace' (PFP) of NATO." "But Section 907 created
    serious obstacles for intensive military cooperation," he said.
    The US Congress passed the Freedom Support Act in 1992 to facilitate
    economic and humanitarian aid to the former republics of the Soviet
    Union, claiming it would help stabilize democratic forms of
    government and foster economic growth. All 15 republics are eligible
    for assistance with the exception of Azerbaijan. The countries that
    receive aid under this legislation include Armenia, Belarus, Estonia,
    Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia,
    Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
    Since 1992 the Armenian government has received more than $1 billion
    in aid under this legislation. Azerbaijan's government has received
    none.

    The clause restricting aid to Azerbaijan reads as follows:

    Restriction on Assistance to Azerbaijan (Title 9: Section 907)
    "United States assistance under this or any other Act ... may not be
    provided to the Government of Azerbaijan until the President
    determines, and so reports to the Congress that the Government of
    Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and
    other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh."

    Robert Ireton said cooperation with Azerbaijan is of great importance
    for Azerbaijan. He said bilateral relations would be further
    developed but did not refer to the embargo.

    ARA/RE
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