WASHINGTON ‘INTERESTED’ IN AZERBAIJAN’S COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT TO TURKEY

news.az
March 17 2010
Azerbaijan

STRATFOR STRATFOR says that Azerbaijan’s place in this situation is an
interesting one, especially the US view of Baku’s support for Ankara.

The resolution that passed the House Foreign Relations Committee was
designed by a handful of Congressmen [Representatives Adam Schiff
(D-Calif.), George Radanovich (R-Calif.), and Congressional Armenian
Caucus co-chairs Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill)] and
Senators [Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.). The
Senators and Congressmen did consult the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA) on the draft.

It was not prepared by the White House, who is against the vote taking
place in Congress, knowing it will harm current relations with Turkey.

Also, this is simply a non-binding resolution that will be voted
on by Congress in May, according to the report of STRATFOR global
intelligence company.

There are forces in the US government–mainly the handful of Senators
and Congressmen–who are using this resolution as an excuse to put
pressure on Turkey for a number of things: the Armenian protocols,
strengthening relations with Russia and keeping Ankara in line in
negotiations over Iran and Afghanistan. But the White House knows
this is not the way to go about applying such pressure and wants to
try to block the vote actually going to Congress in May.

Turkey’s response has been more symbolic than anything.

It has recalled its ambassador to the US and is rumored to be
re-thinking a few economic deals with the US. But Ankara has not
done much else. There has been the belief that this resolution will
kill the protocols between Ankara and Yerevan, however, STRATFOR had
seen no sign that the protocols were going to pass Turkish parliament
anyway. Any tie between the resolution and the protocols is then

Azerbaijan’s place in this situation is an interesting one, especially
the US view of Baku’s support for Ankara. It is a mixed bag of
responses to Azerbaijan. On the one hand, the US is annoyed that Baku
is supporting the delay on the protocols ratification between Ankara
and Yerevan.

But on the other hand, Washington wants Turkey and Azerbaijan to
re-form their ties which have been broken since Armenia and Turkey
started their talk of the protocols. Turkey is the US’s best response
to a resurging Russia in the Caucasus, so having Baku and Ankara on
the same page is key, even if it means sacrificing any progress with
Armenia. The US is in a tough spot when it comes to keeping Russia
contained in the Caucasus.