Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 20 2009

Not only Azerbaijan, but also U.S. regards Section 907 as unjust:
Presidential Administration

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 20 / Trend News E.Ostapenko /

Not only Azerbaijan, but also the U.S. sees Section 907 as unjust,
Foreign Relations Department head at the Azerbaijani Presidential
Administration Novruz Mamedov said today at the international
conference on "Obstacles to Security in the Caucasus: Realities and
Prospects for Regional Cooperation." Section 907 prohibits the U.S.
from assisting Azerbaijan.

In October 1992, U.S. Congress passed the "Freedom Support Act,"
regulating the provision of state aid to former Soviet republics.

Under Section 907 the U.S. prohibits public entities from providing
assistance to Azerbaijan. The amendment has been suspended annually
since 2002.

According to Mammadov, not only the economy has been hit with a
crisis, but also diplomacy and foreign policy.

"In 1993, as a result of the Armenia-Azerbaijani conflict, the U.S.
Congress passed Section 907, restricting the provision of humanitarian
assistance to Azerbaijan," Mamedov said. "The leading Western powers
came to the conclusion at the time that Armenia needed assistance,
although Azerbaijan actually had a greater need for the aid."

According to the official, despite Section 907, Azerbaijan is the only
country in the post-Soviet space cooperating productively with the
West.

"Azerbaijan is building a civil society. I recognize that we have
domestic problems. Show me a country that does not have any problems!"
he said. .

"They say, if Azerbaijan is fair, then Europe will support us. I do
not agree," Mamedov added.

The official called on all participants in the talks to be more
specific in their judgments