news.az, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2009

We cannot make the US love us but we can put a choice before them
Sat 19 December 2009 | 06:46 GMT Text size:

Rasim Musabeyov News.Az interviews Rasim Musabeyov, Azerbaijani
political scientist.

Baku has made a note of protest in connection with a decision of the
US Congress about the allocation of $8 mln to the separatist regime of
Nagorno Karabakh in 2010 financial year. What is behind this protest?

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the decision to
allocate these funds was adopted without a prior request of the
Armenian side. This was a sort of an initiative of the congressmen. By
its protest, Azerbaijan creates an opportunity for the administration
to return to this issue once again. It is clear that $8 mln allocated
to Nagorno Karabakh are insignificant against the multi-billion budget
of the United States. The Congress is mostly composed of democrats who
do not have special grounds for debates Nevertheless, if after the
interference of the administration there appears a need to negotiate
on the budget, the Azerbaijani protest may play its role and
contribute to some corrections at least in spending these expenses
only for humanitarian means or their controlled spending.

Do you think it possible that either the Congress will change its
decision or President Obama will pose veto on assistance to
separatists?

This is highly unlikely. But there is an opposite side in this matter.
The United States also has requests to Azerbaijan. They may require
from the Azerbaijani parliament to ratify some other issues. For
example, they may ask to raise Azerbaijani contingent in Afghanistan.
This decision is subject to ratification by the parliament. In fact,
by its decision to assist to `NKR’, the Congress has reduced the
changes of support to US in the Azerbaijani parliament. The United
States has other requests, for example, the use of Azerbaijani lands
for military and reconnaissance jet planes that allegedly fly to
Afghanistan though in the reality they have an intention to fly along
the Iranian border.

What implications may the US aid to Nagorno Karabakh separatists and
the stiff reaction of official Baku have for the US-Azerbaijani
relations?

I do not think this will worsen the US-Azerbaijani relations. But our
protest is another sign for the United States that Azerbaijan does not
intend to reconcile with the neglect of its interests. The relations
between our countries will not worsen. Have we severed ties with
Russia when we learned that it supplied Armenia with arms estimated at
$1 bn?

Do you think the current reaction of Azerbaijan will prevent the US
Congress from provision of assistance to separatist regime at least in
2011?

It will depend on what the United States will need from Azerbaijan at
that moment. It is clear that we cannot put pressure on the United
States, but we can react on the US requests and appeals. Unlike
Armenia, Azerbaijan does not have a special need for financial tips.

Does the assistance of the US Congress to `NKR’ challenge the
impartiality of the United States as a mediator in the Karabakh
conflict settlement?

Does anyone doubt that Armenian interests are closer to the heart of
the US political elite? No one has doubts about it. Azerbaijan also
has no doubts about the "impartiality’ of Russia and France. But today
these countries are really the powers that can put pressure on Armenia
and force it withdraw its troops from the occupied lands at least for
their interests in Azerbaijan.

Can we break this tradition of Armenia’s closeness to the American heart?

We cannot make the United States love us. But we can put a choice
before them: either an emotional love or national interests.

Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az