Azeri official rules out anti-American campaign
A senior Azerbaijani official has said no anti-American propaganda
is being pursued in the country, commenting on the recent wave of
public resentment caused by the approval by the US Congress of
assistance worth $8 million to the self-proclaimed Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh republic for 2010.
Ali Hasanov, the head of the Presidential Administration socio-political department, expressed disappointment that some media outlets have termed as an anti-American campaign the strongly-worded public statements, including those by Azerbaijani lawmakers, which followed the allocation of US financial aid to the separatist regime.
Hasanov emphasized that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the United States, remains committed to these partnership relations and intends to continue pursuing this policy.
He also regarded as fair the protests over the allocation of financial aid to Upper Garabagh.
"We are not opposed to providing assistance to those suffering in Upper Garabagh, to those in need. But if there are people in need of such assistance, that’s the Azerbaijani community. They have been forced out of their native land and had to live in make-shift tents for so many years. And our demands are that the US society take these matters into account. Whether you want it or not, this assistance is serving to strengthen ethnic separatism in Upper Garabagh and is adversely affecting the solution of the problem. The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry, the Presidential Administration and Parliament, acting in the spirit of the people’s sentiments of disagreement, are making this appeal to the U.S."
Hasanov said the U.S. is a country pursuing policies of global scale, and its decisions cannot be based on random proposals made by Congressmen.
"In any case, this discontent has been conveyed to the US authorities. Anyway, our duty is to raise the voice of protest at the injustice. And the U.S. should take this disagreement into consideration to protect its image in the world," Hasanov said.
US legislators approved the allocation of financial aid to the separatist regime, though the aid package offered by the Obama administration in May did not include assistance to the self-proclaimed republic. Moreover, Congressmen increased the aid package for Armenia to $41 million, while desginating $22 million for Azerbaijan. The move has sparked outcry in Azerbaijan.
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.*
Ali Hasanov, the head of the Presidential Administration socio-political department, expressed disappointment that some media outlets have termed as an anti-American campaign the strongly-worded public statements, including those by Azerbaijani lawmakers, which followed the allocation of US financial aid to the separatist regime.
Hasanov emphasized that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the United States, remains committed to these partnership relations and intends to continue pursuing this policy.
He also regarded as fair the protests over the allocation of financial aid to Upper Garabagh.
"We are not opposed to providing assistance to those suffering in Upper Garabagh, to those in need. But if there are people in need of such assistance, that’s the Azerbaijani community. They have been forced out of their native land and had to live in make-shift tents for so many years. And our demands are that the US society take these matters into account. Whether you want it or not, this assistance is serving to strengthen ethnic separatism in Upper Garabagh and is adversely affecting the solution of the problem. The Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry, the Presidential Administration and Parliament, acting in the spirit of the people’s sentiments of disagreement, are making this appeal to the U.S."
Hasanov said the U.S. is a country pursuing policies of global scale, and its decisions cannot be based on random proposals made by Congressmen.
"In any case, this discontent has been conveyed to the US authorities. Anyway, our duty is to raise the voice of protest at the injustice. And the U.S. should take this disagreement into consideration to protect its image in the world," Hasanov said.
US legislators approved the allocation of financial aid to the separatist regime, though the aid package offered by the Obama administration in May did not include assistance to the self-proclaimed republic. Moreover, Congressmen increased the aid package for Armenia to $41 million, while desginating $22 million for Azerbaijan. The move has sparked outcry in Azerbaijan.
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.*
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