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.