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SPECIAL INTEREST MANIPULATION DAMAGES AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
The Hill, DC
Oct 24 2014
By Nasimi Aghayev
166
1
The corrosive effects of special interests in politics are always
troubling. It is especially damaging when special interest groups
manipulate elected officials into taking actions against national
foreign policy. That's what happened recently in California. Under the
pressure from the Armenian lobby, the California legislature passed a
resolution which contradicts the stated foreign policy of the U.S. and
its national interests. No wonder that the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan
quickly disavowed the resolution, pointing out that it carries no
legal weight and does not represent national foreign policy.
The resolution AJR 32 seeks recognition for the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic." This illegal regime, which has not been
recognized by the United States government or any other country in the
world, was established by Armenia on Azerbaijan's sovereign territory
after the Nagorno-Karabakh war in the 1990s. The invasion also led to
ethnic cleansing and expulsion of around 800,000 Azerbaijanis from
their homes and lands. Despite global condemnation and multiple U.N.
Security Council resolutions demanding immediate withdrawal of
Armenian forces, Armenia continues to occupy 20 percent of Azerbaijani
soil - an invaded territory of almost 13 times the area of Los Angeles
- in violation of international law and morality.
Instead of spending resources meddling in American politics, perhaps
the Armenian lobby in America should focus on severe maladies ailing
the country they advocate for. As the adage goes "it is fiddling while
Rome burns". Armenia is in crisis - demographically, economically and
politically. Tens of thousands of young people, seeing no
opportunities at home, are moving abroad for a better life. Last year
a survey by the UN Population Fund found that nearly 80 percent of
young Armenians would move abroad if they could. Over a million
Armenians are believed to have permanently left since independence.
Armenia's social infrastructure is gradually eroding; the economy is
stagnant, heavily dependent on foreign assistance and remittances; and
the country's politics remains dominated by pervasive corruption. And
the remaining ethnic groups and religions feel increasingly
vulnerable. According to the recent survey by the Anti-Defamation
League, with 58 percent Armenia's rate of anti-Semitism is the highest
among all countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
By contrast, Azerbaijan has become an example of post-Soviet success.
A country that has continued to develop its economy, focused on
inclusion and supporting its neighbors, and become a major player in
the region and beyond. It was elected to the UN Security Council in
2011, a testament to its global stature and effective diplomacy, just
20 years after independence. Its economy has become one of the world's
great success stories, worth $75 billion and making up 80 percent of
the economy of the whole South Caucasus region. Azerbaijan has taken a
smart and dynamic approach to its oil and gas wealth, working to
improve the prosperity of future generations by turning 'black gold
into human gold'. Poverty rates have tumbled from almost 50 percent in
2001 to 6 percent now; Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku has become a
vibrant and modern metropolis; and the country is producing a new
generation of dynamic young professionals eager to contribute to their
country's progress.
Just as important, at a time when religious divisions around the world
look deeper than ever, Azerbaijan has proven itself to be a beacon of
religious and ethnic tolerance and inclusion. It was the world's first
Muslim democracy during its 1918-20 independence and remains a firmly
secular state today: a place where Muslims, Christians and Jews have
been living together in peace and harmony for many centuries.
Azerbaijan has also built strong relations with the U.S., and has
become its reliable friend and partner in a turbulent and difficult
region. Azerbaijan has played a key role in Afghanistan, sending
troops and providing a vital transport corridor for U.S. forces and
equipment there. It has been an important partner on the frontline of
the fight against international terrorism. And, by opening up energy
corridors to Europe, Azerbaijan is helping U.S. allies there to
strengthen their energy security.
Azerbaijan's successes have come despite the occupation of its
territory by Armenia. The OSCE's Minsk Group, co-chaired by France,
Russia and the United States, has been tasked for the last 20 years
with mediating a resolution to this protracted conflict, however
without any tangible results so far. The major reason behind this
failure is that no real pressure, in the form of sanctions or
otherwise, has been applied on Armenia to respect the international
principle of territorial integrity, end the invasion and allow
refugees to return to their homes. As the crisis in the wider region
has demonstrated so bleakly, this imperative principle of territorial
integrity must be preserved if peace in Europe is to be maintained.
The lack of sufficient engagement on the part of co-chairs emboldens
Armenia and its lobby, to whitewash Armenia's crimes in Karabakh and
try to legitimize the illegal invasion. And the California resolution
should be seen as part of these efforts. This kind of resolutions do
not only justify Armenia's medieval-style land-grabs and ethnic
cleansing against Azerbaijan, they also damage America. While
demonstrating the undue influence of special interests, they undermine
U.S.'s reputation in a critical region; harm its efforts to act as an
unbiased mediator in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process; and weaken
its ability to consistently pursue its interests.
John Adams, one of the founding fathers of this great Nation, once
wrote that "government is instituted for the common good... not for
the profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or
class of men." It is high time to heed his advice and stop this kind
of special interests from damaging America and fostering hatred among
communities.
Aghayev is Azerbaijan's consul general to the Western United States.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/221579-special-interest-manipulation-damages-american-foreign
The Hill, DC
Oct 24 2014
By Nasimi Aghayev
166
1
The corrosive effects of special interests in politics are always
troubling. It is especially damaging when special interest groups
manipulate elected officials into taking actions against national
foreign policy. That's what happened recently in California. Under the
pressure from the Armenian lobby, the California legislature passed a
resolution which contradicts the stated foreign policy of the U.S. and
its national interests. No wonder that the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan
quickly disavowed the resolution, pointing out that it carries no
legal weight and does not represent national foreign policy.
The resolution AJR 32 seeks recognition for the so-called
"Nagorno-Karabakh Republic." This illegal regime, which has not been
recognized by the United States government or any other country in the
world, was established by Armenia on Azerbaijan's sovereign territory
after the Nagorno-Karabakh war in the 1990s. The invasion also led to
ethnic cleansing and expulsion of around 800,000 Azerbaijanis from
their homes and lands. Despite global condemnation and multiple U.N.
Security Council resolutions demanding immediate withdrawal of
Armenian forces, Armenia continues to occupy 20 percent of Azerbaijani
soil - an invaded territory of almost 13 times the area of Los Angeles
- in violation of international law and morality.
Instead of spending resources meddling in American politics, perhaps
the Armenian lobby in America should focus on severe maladies ailing
the country they advocate for. As the adage goes "it is fiddling while
Rome burns". Armenia is in crisis - demographically, economically and
politically. Tens of thousands of young people, seeing no
opportunities at home, are moving abroad for a better life. Last year
a survey by the UN Population Fund found that nearly 80 percent of
young Armenians would move abroad if they could. Over a million
Armenians are believed to have permanently left since independence.
Armenia's social infrastructure is gradually eroding; the economy is
stagnant, heavily dependent on foreign assistance and remittances; and
the country's politics remains dominated by pervasive corruption. And
the remaining ethnic groups and religions feel increasingly
vulnerable. According to the recent survey by the Anti-Defamation
League, with 58 percent Armenia's rate of anti-Semitism is the highest
among all countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
By contrast, Azerbaijan has become an example of post-Soviet success.
A country that has continued to develop its economy, focused on
inclusion and supporting its neighbors, and become a major player in
the region and beyond. It was elected to the UN Security Council in
2011, a testament to its global stature and effective diplomacy, just
20 years after independence. Its economy has become one of the world's
great success stories, worth $75 billion and making up 80 percent of
the economy of the whole South Caucasus region. Azerbaijan has taken a
smart and dynamic approach to its oil and gas wealth, working to
improve the prosperity of future generations by turning 'black gold
into human gold'. Poverty rates have tumbled from almost 50 percent in
2001 to 6 percent now; Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku has become a
vibrant and modern metropolis; and the country is producing a new
generation of dynamic young professionals eager to contribute to their
country's progress.
Just as important, at a time when religious divisions around the world
look deeper than ever, Azerbaijan has proven itself to be a beacon of
religious and ethnic tolerance and inclusion. It was the world's first
Muslim democracy during its 1918-20 independence and remains a firmly
secular state today: a place where Muslims, Christians and Jews have
been living together in peace and harmony for many centuries.
Azerbaijan has also built strong relations with the U.S., and has
become its reliable friend and partner in a turbulent and difficult
region. Azerbaijan has played a key role in Afghanistan, sending
troops and providing a vital transport corridor for U.S. forces and
equipment there. It has been an important partner on the frontline of
the fight against international terrorism. And, by opening up energy
corridors to Europe, Azerbaijan is helping U.S. allies there to
strengthen their energy security.
Azerbaijan's successes have come despite the occupation of its
territory by Armenia. The OSCE's Minsk Group, co-chaired by France,
Russia and the United States, has been tasked for the last 20 years
with mediating a resolution to this protracted conflict, however
without any tangible results so far. The major reason behind this
failure is that no real pressure, in the form of sanctions or
otherwise, has been applied on Armenia to respect the international
principle of territorial integrity, end the invasion and allow
refugees to return to their homes. As the crisis in the wider region
has demonstrated so bleakly, this imperative principle of territorial
integrity must be preserved if peace in Europe is to be maintained.
The lack of sufficient engagement on the part of co-chairs emboldens
Armenia and its lobby, to whitewash Armenia's crimes in Karabakh and
try to legitimize the illegal invasion. And the California resolution
should be seen as part of these efforts. This kind of resolutions do
not only justify Armenia's medieval-style land-grabs and ethnic
cleansing against Azerbaijan, they also damage America. While
demonstrating the undue influence of special interests, they undermine
U.S.'s reputation in a critical region; harm its efforts to act as an
unbiased mediator in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process; and weaken
its ability to consistently pursue its interests.
John Adams, one of the founding fathers of this great Nation, once
wrote that "government is instituted for the common good... not for
the profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or
class of men." It is high time to heed his advice and stop this kind
of special interests from damaging America and fostering hatred among
communities.
Aghayev is Azerbaijan's consul general to the Western United States.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/221579-special-interest-manipulation-damages-american-foreign