Interview with Yusif Babanli, board member of Azerbaijani American Council (AAC) and co-founder of the US Azeris Network (USAN).
Q: M.Bryza has vowed and as is seen nothing will hamper his activity in Azerbaijan as an ambassador though reports say the voting on his candidacy will be held. What do you expect from its activity?
A: As you correctly noted, both Matthew Bryza and Francis Ricciardone have been assigned to take offices in Baku and Ankara, respectively, in recess appointments by powers given to the President by Article II, Sec 2, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution. The law states that the recess appointments still have to be approved by the Senate by the end of the next session of the Congress and it is likely that the same arguments will reappear during the next hearing. However, since both officers are career diplomats who have served in the United States government for a long time, loyal to national interests of their country, those arguments will have no solid substance and “we want you to recognize “Armenian genocide” and bash Azerbaijan and Turkey” approach will eventually fail. It’s already known that the US-Azerbaijani relations have somewhat cooled off during the absence of a US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and filling of this important position was long overdue. That’s why, I think, everybody’s expectations run high and following Bryza’s appointment, media will be watching further development of bilateral relations with greater interest. Whatever the difficulties in the relationship between two countries, I think, Matthew Bryza is the right man for this job due to his experience in and understanding of Caucasian affairs.
Q: What did the Azerbaijani diaspora achieve in the information warfare of the Armenian side against Azerbaijan, in particular, in the United States?
A: The success of Azerbaijani-American community in the information war can only be seen by observing near and anticipating distant results, meaning what does not seem to be as much success today may turn into a greater success tomorrow, and one underappreciated action can trigger several subsequent long-term actions eventually ending up as success in the information war. That’s why it is essential that every member of the growing Azerbaijani community in US sees the larger picture rather than concentrating on short term successes only, and continues contributing personal time and efforts. Our main objective is disclosing the truth which has been suppressed for long and every community member has to be a messenger of truth. Every year, we see more energetic people from both Turkish and Azerbaijani communities joining their efforts to counter Armenian propaganda and this trend is likely to continue.
Q: How real is the soonest cancelation of the anti-Azerbaijani section 907 of the Freedom Support Act?
A: The section 907 of the Freedom Support Act is a document that completely contradicts the US stance on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Passed in response to blockade of Armenia by Azerbaijan, it makes Azerbaijan an exception to receiving US aid because of its blockade of Armenia. First of all, the economic links were cut due to military aggression of Armenia on Azerbaijan. Why would one country maintain economic links and open communications with a neighboring state while its population is being ethnically cleansed and massacred by the very neighbors? By the same token, Armenia should also be banned from any US aid because it has kept Azerbaijan’s exclave, Nakhchivan in blockade ever since the conflict started. Secondly, the mere attempt of the blockade has been and is to make Armenian leadership to understand that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has been violated and has to be restored which accords with the official stance of the United States recognizing the territorial integrity of both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Therefore, not only does section 907 make no sense but it also contradicts the official stance and national interests of the United States.
Q: Do you expect breakthroughs in the Karabakh settlement this year?
A: It’s hard to say whether the resolution of Karabakh conflict nears or if negotiations will come to deadlock again due to unconstructive position of Armenia. However, the longer the status quo, the harder it will be for Armenia, its economy and citizens, as the regional projects grow, economies of two other South Caucasian states flourish while that of Armenia lags behind, and all because of nationalist aspirations of the Armenian diaspora.
Leyla Tagiyeva
News.Az
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