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Berman Blocks US Military Sale To Baku

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  • Berman Blocks US Military Sale To Baku

    BERMAN BLOCKS US MILITARY SALE TO BAKU

    Asbarez
    Thursday, June 28th, 2012

    Rep. Howard Berman State Department takes Azerbaijan off proposed
    list of recipient countries for upcoming sale of helicopter equipment

    WASHINGTON--In response to Congressional concerns first raised by
    House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat Howard Berman (D-CA),
    the State Department has removed Azerbaijan from a list of countries
    eligible to purchase U.S. military hardware which could be used by
    the Aliyev regime in its ongoing attacks against Armenia and Nagorno
    Karabakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

    "This decision by Secretary Clinton is in the best interests of the
    Armenian people and for peace in the region," said Rep. Berman, upon
    receiving the modified formal notification from the State Department
    late on June 27th.

    "We would like to thank Rep. Berman for taking immediate action
    to block this proposed arms sale, particularly given the Aliyev
    regime's recent attacks against Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh that
    coincided with Secretary Clinton's visit to the Caucasus," stated ANCA
    Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian. "Military equipment sales
    to Azerbaijan only serve to arm and embolden a belligerent Azerbaijani
    government, whose threats and acts of aggression undermine the Karabakh
    peace process and stability in the region overall."

    In a May 29th letter to Secretary Clinton, Rep. Berman referenced
    announcements of a sale of military hardware which would be used in
    conjunction with Azerbaijan's military helicopter fleet for "border
    surveillance and 'police-type' activities." In addition to possible
    attacks against Armenia, Rep. Berman expressed concern about the
    "message that such a sale would send to the regional parties, both in
    terms of perceived U.S. even-handedness and in terms of our seriousness
    about persuading Baku to cease its bellicose rhetoric and agree to
    Minsk Group co-chair demands that it remove its snipers from the
    'line of contact' in the Nagorno-Karabakh region."

    The ANCA expressed its opposition to the sale as part of a seven-point
    memo sent to Congressional offices and the White House immediately
    after the June 4 - 6 Azerbaijani attacks against Armenia and Karabakh
    that left some 10 soldiers dead. "The Obama Administration should
    suspend all military aid to Azerbaijan, and stop the sale or transfer
    to Baku of any military equipment or dual-use items (including the
    proposed sale of advanced helicopter-based surveillance equipment -
    DDTC 12-002)," explained Nahapetian in the memo.

    Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) subsequently raised concerns about this
    proposed military hardware sale during Senate Foreign Relations
    Committee consideration of the nomination of Richard Morningstar for
    U.S. Ambassador Azerbaijan.

    In his questions to Morningstar, Sen. Menendez called specific
    attention to recent cross-border attacks by Azerbaijan against Armenia,
    threats by President Aliyev that "Armenians will live in fear," and
    the assertion that "Our [Azerbaijan's] main enemies are Armenians of
    the world." Menendez continued, asking "do you think, based upon those
    types of statements, that the proposed sales of military hardware to
    be used in conjunction with Azerbaijan's military helicopter fleet
    is really in the national interest of the United States?"

    Morningstar argued, in part, that "There are increasing tensions
    with respect to other neighbors, in particular with Iran. And we
    have to provide, I think, security assistance, possibly military
    assistance in ways that cannot be used to exacerbate any situation
    with respect to Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh." Menendez was quick
    to respond, reminding Morningstar that "I didn't hear President
    Aliyev say 'My main enemy or security concern is Iran,' he said that,
    'Our main enemies are the Armenians of the world.' [. . .] I have a
    real problem with going ahead and selling military hardware to the
    Azerbaijanis based upon what has happened."

    Below is the text of Rep. Berman's letter to Secretary Clinton:

    The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State U.S. Department
    of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520

    Dear Secretary Clinton:

    I am writing to express my concern over a proposal by the Department
    of State to allow the sale of military equipment to Azerbaijan. This
    proposal is included in case "DDTC 12-002â~@³.

    Two months ago, my staff inquired as to the possible use of this
    equipment by Azerbaijan. Just last week, they were informed that it
    would be used on existing helicopters to aid in border surveillance
    and "police-type" activities.

    As Azerbaijan shares a border with Armenia, this equipment could be
    used to identify and possibly target Armenians in the border area for
    surveillance or for attack. I am also concerned about the message
    that such a sale would send to the regional parties, both in terms
    of perceived U.S. even-handedness and in terms of our seriousness
    about persuading Baku to cease its bellicose rhetoric and agree to
    Minsk Group co-chair demands that it remove its snipers from the
    "line of contact" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

    I therefore urge you to alter the proposal and prevent this military
    equipment from being sold to Azerbaijan.

    Sincerely, Howard L Berman Ranking Member

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