ALLOCATION OF AID TO SEPARATIST NAGORNO KARABAKH IS CONTRARY TO US POLICY

news.az
Dec 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Brenda Shaffer It’s not the first time that the congress allocated
aid to Nagorno Karabakh, but it completely contradicts the US policy,
professor Brenda Shaffer.

"The decision of the US Congress on allocating direct aid to Nagorno
Karabakh is contrary to the policy pursued by an official Washington",
said Professor of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and University of
Haifa Dr. Brenda Shaffer.

According to Shaffer, it’s not the first time that the congress
allocated aid to Nagorno Karabakh, but it completely contradicts the
US policy. If even the financial aid is allocated, the uses of this
money must be shown. If not, the aid money is thrown away from the
US tax payers.

Shaffer noted that the Congress, which passed this decision, is not
thinking about the US national interests, they are thinking about the
interests of Armenian lobby. However, she thinks the US Administration
will not support such decision of the Congress.

Commenting on settlement perspectives of Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
Shaffer stated that it’s critical and quite important to link this
process with the opening of Turkey-Armenia borders: "The opening
of Turkey-Armenia borders is very significant in terms of progress
in Nagorno Karabakh issue. The border issue is only non-military
means to encourage Armenia to release some of the territories and it
should also be used as an opportunity to promote the Nagorno Karabakh
resolution. If it isn’t, I think it will be a huge mistake on Turkey’s
part, on the US part and even on part of Armenia".

To Shaffer, if the borders are opened Armenia’s position in Nagorno
Karabakh issue will be more severe and that’s why everything must be
linked. She said if the borders are opened and nothing significant
happens on the Karabakh it will be very dangerous for the region.