Interview with Tomris Azeri, president of the Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA), the oldest grassroots organization of Azerbaijani Americans.
Q: What is your assessment of the diaspora's work in 2010?
A: 2010 was a very challenging but also successful year for Azerbaijani grassroots in America. The challenges were primarily posed by the tensions in US-Azerbaijani relations emanating from prior US support for Turkish-Armenian rapprochement, circumventing the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Among other challenges were the allocation of direct US aid to Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh, the blocking of Matthew Bryza's appointment by Senators Boxer and Menendez and attempts to push House Resolution 252 on recognition of so-called "Armenian genocide".
But thanks to the united voices of Azerbaijani- and Turkish-American grassroots, and to the decisive policies pursued by Azerbaijan and Turkey, on most of these issues our opponents, be they the Republic of Armenia or Armenian-American organizations, failed to reach their objectives. Mainstream Azerbaijani and Turkish organizations acted together by initiating letter campaigns and facilitating meetings with US public officials to voice the concerns of our communities on all these issues throughout the year.
In June of this year, Paul Murad became the first Azerbaijani-American to run in Democratic primaries for the office of lieutenant governor in the State of Nevada. He gained 15% of Democratic votes and came out third statewide. This is a great achievement for a young, professional Azerbaijani-American running for public office for the first time. We are very pleased at ASA that our community in New York hosted the first Azerbaijani-American fundraiser in support of Paul Murad's campaign. We will continue to support Paul in all his future political endeavours.
In August, the Azerbaijan Society of America hosted the ninth annual reunion of American families with children adopted from Azerbaijan in New York to share memories and celebrate their Azerbaijani heritage.
In November, under the leadership of our partner organization, the Azerbaijani-American Council (AAC), Azerbaijani and Turkish communities in California staged a first-ever successful public picket to protest at the speech by an Armenian separatist, the so-called "president of Nagorno-Karabakh", Bako Sahakyan, at the World Affairs Council. This action was a strong message to radical groups in California, a state with a major Armenian-American population, that they can no longer intimidate public officials, citizens and even Azerbaijani diplomats with their limited racist agenda and historical revisionism. Another great achievement this year in the west was the Nevada governor's proclamation of 31 March as Azerbaijani Remembrance Day, a move facilitated by the US Azeris Network (USAN).
2010 was also the year of the US Census, an important milestone for reflecting our numbers and influence as communities. In February 2010, ASA joined with our partners at AAC and the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) in conducting a Census workshop for Azerbaijani and Turkish communities at George Washington University in Washington, DC.
At the same venue, ASA, AAC and ATAA co-sponsored a well-attended seminar on the 18th anniversary of the Khojaly Massacre. The event featured the State Department-designated cultural ambassador and the author of "Justice for Khojaly"music video, Toni Blackman, and the Grammy-winning producer of that video, Gordon Williams, as well as Ambassador Yashar Aliyev as guest speakers.
Q: How would you comment on the long-awaited appointment of Matthew Bryza as US ambassador to Azerbaijan?
A: As a US diplomat well versed in the Caspian and South Caucasus affairs, Matthew Bryza is the best qualified candidate for the post. The recess appointment made by President Obama, circumventing the blocks on nomination placed by Democratic Senators Boxer and Menendez, shows the Administration's strong commitment to Bryza's qualifications as an ambassador in Azerbaijan.
Although the recess appointment still requires further approval in the Senate by the end of 2011, nothing will prevent Ambassador Bryza from serving in Azerbaijan now. And it is unlikely that the Senate will stop him from carrying out his diplomatic duty by the end of this year. So, in the end, the Armenian-American lobby once more failed in its attempts to influence US foreign policy by using a racist agenda.
Q: Some say that the presence or absence of an ambassador is not an indicative factor when bilateral relations are growing naturally. Do you think that the prolonged absence of a US ambassador in Baku had a negative impact on US-Azerbaijani relations?
A: Regardless of interpretations or any political motives, the absence of a US ambassador contributed to the cooling of relations, as this concern was aired in both US and Azerbaijani media. US-Azerbaijani relations will continue to grow in the coming year as there are many areas of mutual interest, and the Azerbaijani diaspora in the US will continue playing its part to facilitate a positive tone in these relations.
Q: Will the appointment revitalize US-Azerbaijani relations and elevate the US role in the Karabakh peace process?
A: The extent of the US role in the Karabakh settlement is largely dependent upon the geopolitical situation in the region and the formulation of US foreign policy in Washington. The appointment of an ambassador is only of secondary importance to these primary factors. But considering Matthew Bryza's wealth of experience with the OSCE Minsk Group process, his appointment as ambassador to Azerbaijan will bring positive dynamics at least in terms of the more robust conduct of US policy from an Azerbaijani perspective.
Q: What are the diaspora's major plans for 2011?
A: During 2011, the Azerbaijani diaspora will have to continue building upon the positive momentum gained during the past month with the appointment of Ambassador Bryza and the final defeat of House Resolution 252. There will be challenges but we at ASA will continue working together with other groups to tackle them.
This year, ASA will be co-organizing more educational conferences to raise US public awareness of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani issues. Specifically, ASA will continue its annual tradition of Khojaly commemoration week in February with presentations and public awareness activities. Another important focus this year will be the Pax Turcica project which will proceed with a major academic conference dedicated to the Turkic world.
28 May is perhaps the most important date for ASA, the first Azerbaijani-American grassroots organization which was established in 1957 by descendants of our first republic's founding fathers. So for the 93rd anniversary of the republic, ASA plans to organize a number of activities involving the Azerbaijani and Turkic communities as well as US officials and the media. One important event will be the traditional Azerbaijani flag raising ceremony in Manhattan, New York.
The Azerbaijan Society of America will continue to reach out to Azerbaijani students who are stuying in the United States with scholarship programs. ASA will award a scholarship to a current, full-time Azerbaijani or Azerbaijani-American student at an accredited college or university.
Finally, this year, ASA will be building its influence nationwide by reaching out to Azerbaijani-Americans online - the oldest Azerbaijani-American grassroots organization will use modern ways of interaction.
Aliyah Fridman
News.Az
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