PRESS TV, Iran
May 20 2007
US military officials in Azerbaijan
Sun, 20 May 2007 21:59:50
A military delegation from the United States has traveled to
Azerbaijan to boost military cooperation with the former soviet
republic.
The delegation was led by Chief of Staff of the Oklahoma Air National
Guard Brigadier General Robert D Ireton.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Colonel General Safar Abiyev welcomed
the military delegation on Saturday and met with the American
officials.
Abiyev said Baku keeps bilateral relations with the US within
‘Partnership for Peace’ (PFP) of NATO." "But Section 907 created
serious obstacles for intensive military cooperation," he said.
The US Congress passed the Freedom Support Act in 1992 to facilitate
economic and humanitarian aid to the former republics of the Soviet
Union, claiming it would help stabilize democratic forms of
government and foster economic growth. All 15 republics are eligible
for assistance with the exception of Azerbaijan. The countries that
receive aid under this legislation include Armenia, Belarus, Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Since 1992 the Armenian government has received more than $1 billion
in aid under this legislation. Azerbaijan’s government has received
none.
The clause restricting aid to Azerbaijan reads as follows:
Restriction on Assistance to Azerbaijan (Title 9: Section 907)
"United States assistance under this or any other Act … may not be
provided to the Government of Azerbaijan until the President
determines, and so reports to the Congress that the Government of
Azerbaijan is taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and
other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh."
Robert Ireton said cooperation with Azerbaijan is of great importance
for Azerbaijan. He said bilateral relations would be further
developed but did not refer to the embargo.
ARA/RE