US FAILURE TO MEDIATE SOLUTION TO KARABAKH FORCES AZERBAIJAN TOWARDS RUSSIA

Ayna
April 3 2010
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani political experts differ in their assessments of the
current relations between official Baku and Washington. Expectations
for the US to mediate a solution to the drawn-out Karabakh problem
have diminished, expert Rauf Mirqadirov told the paper. Therefore,
he added, the government of Azerbaijan has decided to seek Russia’s
backing for the solution of the Karabakh problem. For his part,
expert Rasim Musabayov does not see eye to eye with his colleague
and does not view the latest developments as signs of mounting
tension in the US-Azerbaijani relations. He also dismisses opinions
that Baku has fallen under Russia’s influence. The co-chairman of a
pro-Russian party, Araz Alizada, believes the USA has been trying to
exert pressure on Azerbaijan for two years, and hails a rapprochement
with Russia. The following is the text of Idrak Abbasov report by
Azerbaijani newspaper Ayna on 3 April headlined "US-Azerbaijan:
Are relations cool?" and subheaded "There are both who say yes and no.

However, there happens something"; subheadings have been inserted
editorially:

Despite statements by officials of the two countries about friendship
and strategic cooperation, the Azerbaijani-US relations continue to
cool. Anyway, there are people who think so. But this also may not
be the case.

Under the US State Department’s International Narcotics Control
Strategy Report [INCS] released at the end of February, 35 per cent
of the drug addicts in Azerbaijan are students. The approval of the
resolution on the "Armenian genocide" by the US House Committee on
Foreign Affairs and the publication on the same day of an article about
75m-dollar worth mansions of the Aliyevs in Dubai were interpreted
as elements indicating to the tension in the relations.

US unable to guarantee security of regional states, expert

For instance, political expert Rauf Mirqadirov believes the
Azerbaijani-US relations began to deteriorate after the five-day war
on 8 August 2008 between Russia and Georgia. The latest developments
are manifestations of the tension in the relations. "The USA had
projects to use Georgia for [the purpose of] democratization of the
region and establishment of a military and political springboard
and Azerbaijan for energy and security purposes. However, the August
war showed that the West and the USA do not guarantee the security
of the regional states. Consequently, the lack of a long-awaited
support from Washington by official Baku for the resolution of the
Karabakh problem and other issues compelled Azerbaijan to distance
itself from the USA and adjust relations with Russia."

The expert believes that unlike the western circles, Russia does not
raise the issue of democracy and human rights with the countries
in strategic relations. However, after every elections, official
Washington criticized Baku for falsifying polls. But it did not
impose any sanctions and the criticism did not go beyond demands like
"measures should be taken to punish those who are guilty".

Each time Washington declares that elections were short of
international standards and democratic norms. Even after the 2003
presidential election, the USA expressed its attitude towards the
election more openly. Although the USA cast doubts on Ilham Aliyev’s
victory, it declared its adherence to cooperation with him.

Baku takes heed of US interests, expert

For his part, political expert Rasim Musabayov does not consider
that the latest developments are signs of mounting tension in the
US-Azerbaijani relations and that Baku has fallen under Russia’s
influence. "The government of Azerbaijan has not received the expected
support from the USA over the solution of the Karabakh conflict.

Nevertheless, Baku has always taken into account Washington’s interests
in energy security, anti-terror coalition and other issues, and this is
also a fact that the USA views Azerbaijan as its strategic partner. The
political expert believes that despite critical opinions of the
government officials against the USA and the Obama administration,
President Ilham Aliyev has not commented on the latest issues: "It is
for the president of Azerbaijan to decide, if he says nothing specific,
what the rest say is insignificant. Those who voice critical opinions
can heap unimaginable praises on the USA if need be."

Minor party leader hails ties with Russia

The co-chairman of the Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party, Araz
Alizada, considers that Azerbaijan is obliged to pursue a pro-Russian
policy: "First, Russia has the final say on the regulation of
the Karabakh problem. Second, over two millions of Azerbaijanis
earn money in Russia and there are Azerbaijani oligarchs earning
large amount of money there. Araz Alizada considers that over the
last one to two years, the USA has been trying to put pressure on
Azerbaijan. However, Azerbaijan is set to pursue a balanced policy:
"For instance, Azerbaijan is not allowing the US to use its territories
against Iran and does not only sell oil and gas resources to the West
but also to Russia, and even wants to sell them to Iran although the
USA does not like it."

The politician considers that the article about the mansions owned by
the Aliyevs in Dubai does not worry the government seriously. Simply,
this and other issues are exaggerated by the press.

US-Azerbaijani ties fine, foreign minister says

But Rauf Mirqadirov considers that the mentioned facts and other
issues show that the US-Azerbaijani relations are aggravated and
the processes are gradually deepening: "The USA has not named an
ambassador to Azerbaijan for 10 months. At the same time, serious
compromises are demanded for the resolution of the Karabakh problem
as well as the demands are being toughened over democracy and human
rights issues. Because official Baku has not been paying heed to
calls from the West and the USA over democracy issues."

Nevertheless, official Baku is optimist. [Foreign Minister] Elmar
Mammadyarov has told a latest press conference that the relations
between Azerbaijan and the USA have not ever been so good over the
last 20 years. He also expressed his confidence that the USA would
soon appoint an ambassador to Azerbaijan:

"We would like a new ambassador to come soon and take up an office. We
are friendly and strategic countries." "The delay in the appointment
of an ambassador to Azerbaijan by the USA is purely connected with
domestic processes."

This is what the head of the public relations department of the
embassy, Terry Davidson, said. He said that wrong information is being
circulated in some circles over the delays in the appointment of a
new ambassador: "This is not the case. It takes a long time to check
biographies of nominees for the post of an ambassador. The activities
of the US embassy is not only restricted to the ambassador, at present,
there are over 80 Americans at the embassy."

Davidson said that the USA cooperates successfully with Azerbaijan
in security, energy, democracy and other spheres. The delay in the
appointment of an ambassador cannot harm bilateral cooperation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress