Interview with Jeyhun Mollazade, chairman of the US-Azerbaijan Council (USAC), co-director of US Azeris Network.
Q: What changes may occur in the US-Azerbaijani relations after two US senators blocked Bryza’s candidacy as the ambassador in Azerbaijan under the influence of Armenian lobby?
A: I believe that bilateral relations will continue to remain stable, to maintain strategic partnership in different areas, including energy (development of gas exports to Europe), the fight against terrorism, etc.
With regard to temporary weakening of the American diplomatic presence in Azerbaijan, it can lead to the fact that in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict there will be a certain mistrust of Baku to Washington due to the fact that the Armenian-American organizations are putting pressure on the Senate and the administration can block the appointment of a new ambassador to Azerbaijan. Naturally, this will cause some resentment in Baku. The absence of the US ambassador in Baku will reduce the capacity of the United States to address a number of issues in the region. Of course, this whole situation does not bode well. But talking about the way it would change the nature of relations between Baku and Washington, I should note here that these relations will continue to be strategic.
Q: Some in Washington say that the very absence of the ambassador has purely technical reasons. At least, this was the explanation Americans gave during the long delay in the appointment of the new ambassador after Anne Derse’s term expired in summer 2009. It seems that the same explanation will be given now if the candidacy of the new ambassador is not passed by the Senate after Bryza. Is this explanation true?
A: In the past, the absence of the ambassador was not due to the fact that the US was willing to reduce its relations with Azerbaijan to the level of charge d'affaires, it was rather associated with the fact that Armenian-American organizations blocked the appointment of an ambassador, whom they do not like, through some senators since Bryza has been dealing with the Caspian energy issues, the development of energy projects in the Caspian region for more than 15 years. World Armenians believed that these policies will strengthen Azerbaijan as a state in the region. Of course, Armenians considered such policy harmful for Armeniaa. Armenian of America do not care a bit about American interests. Bryza was effectively involved in the implementation of US energy policy in the Caspian region, the implementation of all these projects, and this irritated the Armenians. Bryza’s marriage to a Turkish woman added fuel to the fire along with the non-conformity of the Bryza’s role in Karabakh conflict if exactly Armenian politics in separating Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan to Armenian expectations. Moreover, in their opinion, Bryza did not advocate the recognition of the so-called "Armenian genocide". The result is that the Armenians attributed a lot of shortcuts on Bryza. Although many American diplomats, who worked in Azerbaijan, followed the US policy of non-recognition of "Armenian genocide", it was Mr. Bryza in their eyes, the one who should have been blocked. Using the Senators Menendez and Boxter, they wanted to show their power and influence. Although it is an unfair play, even one senator can block the appointment of an ambassador. These actions are more harmful to US interests, because today Azerbaijan is developing as a strong economy in terms of the state economy.
Anyway, Baku will preserve high level of relations with Washington, but America loses the opportunity to have an experienced, skillful diplomat in Azerbaijan who is well aware of the region, has broad contacts in Azerbaijan, which is just profitable to America, its contacts with state, commercial and nongovernmental structures of the republic.
Anyway, the Armenians of America rather cause damage to the United States than to Azerbaijan, because Bryza represents the interests of his country-US.
Q: And what if the ratification of the candidacy of the new ambassador is delayed again after Bryza?
A: If Azerbaijan does not have the US ambassador for long as a result of blocking his candidacy by the Armenians, this will have a definite harm to the relations between Baku and Washington. This is harmful but the biggest harm is caused to America by Armenians. America is losing an experienced diplomat in Azerbaijan but I hope that the strategic nature of mutual relations of the two countries, interests coincide in most things and this is the continuation of development of Azerbaijan as an independent state in the region, interaction of Baku and Washington in the international arena on regional issues and so on. On all these and other issues the United States needs to have a constructive presence in Azerbaijan on the level of the ambassador who is well aware of the region, accept Baku’s position on many issues and communicate it to his government.
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