Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani diaspora has condemned the US Congress’ allocating $8 million in assistance to the separatist regime operating in the Armenia-occupied Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh region of Azerbaijan in 2010.
In a statement, the Azerbaijan-America Council said that in March 2009, representatives of their organization and other groups, testifying before Congress, demanded putting an end to direct US assistance to Upper Garabagh, noting that the unrecognized regime had been established illegally and by means of military aggression and ethnic cleansing.
In May, US President Barack Obama offered to allot military aid worth $4 million to Azerbaijan and $3 million to Armenia, in 2010. Also, Azerbaijan was to receive $900,000 for military education and training programs, while Armenia – $450,000. At the same time, a $30 million aid package was offered for Armenia. The White House’s proposal did not include assistance to the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh republic. However, US legislators failed to take into account the proposal and allocated funds for Upper Garabagh. Moreover, Congressmen increased the aid package for Armenia to $41 million, while desginating $22 million for Azerbaijan.
The statement said that the legislature’s decision, passed under pressure from certain congresisonal groups, will cause US taxpayers’ money being spent on assisting the illegal entity established by Armenia in Azerbaijani territory.
"The Congress’ position runs counter to the official stance recognizing Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity expressed by the US State Department. And the point is that amidst a dire economic crisis and at a time of rising unemployment, US lawmakers are rewarding a regime responsible for mass ethnic cleansing and aggravating the suffering of over 800,000 Azerbaijani displaced persons."
Commenting on the matter, Elkhan Polukhov, the spokesman for the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry, said the U.S. should allot financial aid to those ousted from their homes in the occupied territories, as well.
According to Polukhov, Baku is expecting the U.S. to coordinate all of its steps regarding such programs with Azerbaijan and inform the government to that end.
"We have always raised and are raising the issue of allocating such assistance to the Azerbaijani community [of Upper Garabagh]. Discrimination cannot be allowed here. Support should be given equally to the people living in the occupied territories and the population that was forced out of there," Polukhov said.
20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Upper Garabagh and seven adjacent districts, has been under Armenian occupation for nearly two decades. Defying international law, the separatist regime in Upper Garabagh declared so-called independence in 1991, which has not been recognized by the world community.*