Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan is a close U.S. ally since Azerbaijanis regained their independence following the Soviet Union`s collapse, Director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at Hudson Institute Richard Weitz said in his report on Azerbaijan`s regional role .

The report of the Center "Second Line of Defence" has been released in website and published as a book.

The report says that Azerbaijan has become a prominent model for Muslim-majority nations seeking to manage religious and ethnic differences in a harmonious and productive manner.

"Thanks to its secular policies and embracing approach toward religious an ethnic diversity, Azerbaijanis have accrued substantial soft power as an attractive Muslim model for emulation by other countries," the report says.

In the report, the author reviews Azerbaijan`s recent history and its growing soft power and other forms of influence.

The report mentions that following restoration of its independence Azerbaijan has achieved remarkable economic, diplomatic, and soft power influence.

"Vision and perseverance also helped Azerbaijanis overcome their post-Soviet trauma and treacherous neighborhood to emerge as an influential force for religious, economic, and other forms of cooperation in an often-troubled world. The country`s GDP has grown from $1.2 billion in 1992 to more than $60 billion today. Azerbaijan is presently one of the few countries to serve on the UN Security Council, having won election in October 2011 to that seat for the first time in one of the Council`s most competitive elections in recent history," it reads.

The second part of the report discusses the role of religion in Azerbaijani society and politics. "The government offers benign but hands-off support for all religious groups in the country, empowering all denominations to run their own institutions through mosques, churches, synagogues, etc., and other independent hierarchies. Azerbaijani officials follow the physician`s principle of "do no harm" toward religious groups and try to create favorable conditions for the freedom of worship-such as by declaring November 16 as an official Day of Tolerance-and strive to conserve the country`s different religions, cultures and traditions."

The author says following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Azerbaijan was among the first countries to offer the United States unconditional support in the war against terrorism.

"Azerbaijan has provided landing and refueling support for U.S. military transports to Afghanistan and allowed NATO countries to deliver material to their troops in Afghanistan through the Northern Distribution Network that passes through Azerbaijan`s territory," it reads.

In addition, Richard Weitz wrote, Azerbaijan contributes to U.S. energy and economic goals. Furthermore, U.S. firms have a major presence in Azerbaijan thanks to the government`s preferential treatment of U.S. energy companies, which began in the 1990s.

"Its diplomats have since used their country`s membership on the UN Security Council and other mechanisms to support U.S. regional and global security goals," the report reads.