AZERBAIJAN NOT KEEN ON RECEIVING FOREIGN ASSISTANCE FROM OUTSIDE, BUT TO DEVELOP NATIONAL ECONOMY INSIDE – SENIOR OFFICER OF FOREIGN MINISTRY
Author: A.Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 27 2006
Tahir Tagizade, the head of the Press and information Department
of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, informed Trend that the
amount indicated in the last report by the Research Center of the
U.S. Congress with respect to the U.S Department of State financial
assistance to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, is not objective.
The figure inquired in assistance for countries differ because every
time the Adminstration inquires little amount for Armenia, while the
pro-Armenian Congressmen increase this assistance, Tagizade said.
"They openly say that this assistance is one of the sources of
existence for Armenia. The figure for 2007 for Azerbaijan and Armenia
are close enough in absolute expression. There is no guarantee that
the pro-Armenian-spirited leadership of relevant committees won’t
increase the amount this time," head of the Department said.
In accordance with the last report by the Research Center of the U.S.
Congress, inquiry from the Department of State for Armenia comprises
$58.14mln, for Azerbaijan – $40.12mln and for Georgia – $75.84mln. In
2006 the assistance for Armenia was $81.7mln, for Azerbaijan –
$47.94mln and for Georgia – $86.01mln. The figure linked with Armenia
and Georgia also includes assistance within the framework of different
Foundations, including Millennium Challenges program.
Tagizade noted that it is necessary to take into consideration the
fact that the figures do not include assistance by the Defense
Ministry, which envisages financing of foreign armed forces and
international military education and training. These are programs
that caused disagreements in Armenia, which further demanded parity
in the delivery of military assistance.
The amount of governmental assistance to Azerbaijan until 1998, when 5
exclusions were confirmed to Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act,
were rather low than assistance rendered to Armenia and Georgia not
only from the per capita calculations, but also from the absolute
figure stand point. After the waiver of Section 907, the amount was
equalized a bit.
The head of the Department noted that financial assistance in terms
of aid is not so principle. "We are not keen on receiving financial
assistance, but develop the national economy. As political accents,
which comprise the financial assistance, it is linked with the
pro-Armenian congressmen activities and is inevitable. In difference
to Azerbaijan, their major argument stipulates that that Armenia
is a country which depends on assistance – either Diaspora or
U.S. Government," Tagizade said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress