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Azer News, Azerbaijan
Aug 19 2004
US concerned over latest policy trends
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Baku as part of his
visit to the US allies in the region last Wednesday. In a meeting
with Rumsfeld on Thursday, President Ilham Aliyev said the visit by
the US government officials and Congressmen to Azerbaijan shows the
rapidly expanding bilateral relations.
He noted that the USA and Azerbaijan are jointly developing energy
projects and successfully cooperating in security and other areas.
The President also expressed his satisfaction with the level of
military collaboration and said he was confident of the further
expansion of economic, military, and cultural partnership between the
two countries. "I am confident that in the future we will further
strengthen our ties to become a closer friend and ally", Aliyev said.
Secretary Rumsfeld pointed out the rapidly expanding security
cooperation and said Washington appreciates Azerbaijan's efforts in
the war on terrorism and its support for the anti-terror coalition in
Afghanistan and Iraq. "I agree completely that the security
relationship between our two countries continues to grow and
strengthen", he said. The US official also stressed the importance of
successful cooperation between the USA and Azerbaijan within the NATO
Partnership for Peace program and added that this will further
promote Azerbaijan's collaboration with NATO and the USA. Azerbaijan
is the only predominantly Muslim country that has contributed to the
multinational coalition assisting the forces of the Iraqi interim
government.
Rumsfeld dodges question on Upper Garabagh
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev and Secretary Rumsfeld held a news
conference following the negotiations held in Baku at the Heydar
Aliyev Airport of Baku. Rumsfeld said that in his meetings with
President Aliyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev he thanked the
Azerbaijani people for the contribution to anti-terror operations.
Touching upon the details of the talks held in Baku, the US Defense
Secretary said issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed. He
said the US cooperation with Azerbaijan in this area promotes the
tranquility in the Caspian region, fighting international terrorism,
smuggle of goods, transit of narcotics, and weapons of mass
destruction. "The American people appreciate Azerbaijan's efforts at
fighting terrorism globally and our military cooperation will
continue", Rumsfeld said. He noted that he did not discuss with
President Aliyev the issue of expanding the contingent of Azerbaijani
peacekeepers in Iraq an Afghanistan. At the same time, Rumsfeld said
the USA was in talks with its allies on the upcoming presidential
election in Iraq and that he discussed the issue with Azerbaijani
government officials. "Assistance of various countries is needed to
hold the election", he added. He avoided a question on whether the US
could step up assistance in settling the Upper Garabagh conflict and
make changes to its policy in this respect. Rumsfeld said that
Washington was involved in the Minsk Group and that the USA has
appointed a new ambassador to deal with the conflict settlement. "As
you know, the United States supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan", he added. Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev who
attended the news conference called on the United States to demand
that Armenia withdraw from the occupied land of Azerbaijan. Abiyev
pointed out the rapidly developing military cooperation between the
two countries. One of the issues discussed during the talks in Baku
was ensuring the security of the Caspian Sea, in particular, securing
oil fields. "The fact that the Caspian legal status has not been
resolved yet is a problem. Azerbaijan hopes for US support in this
area", he said. Touching upon the involvement of Azerbaijani
peacekeepers in Iraq, Abiyev said this was a political issue and that
it could be addressed only after a political decision is made. With
regard to Iran's nuclear program, Rumsfeld said it represents a
threat for the neighboring countries. Referring to the recent visit
by the Iranian President Khatami to Baku, the US Defense Secretary
said he discussed the issue with President Ilham Aliyev. The visit
came as a surprise and no information was provided earlier as to its
purpose or program. Moreover, the unexpected visit can be explained
by Washington's concerns over the latest trends in the policy pursued
by Baku. The USA is also concerned with some internal political
processes ongoing in Azerbaijan and there are valid reasons for this.
This country is perturbed with the recent visit by Iranian President
Mohammad Khatami to Azerbaijan and its potential consequences, in
particular, prospects for further rapprochement in the positions of
Baku and Tehran. It is not by mere chance that the US Defense
Secretary admitted that he discussed the results of President
Khatami's visit to Baku in his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.
At the same time, he noted that the USA is not concerned over the
developing relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. Commenting on the
recent reports released by Iranian media saying that Azerbaijani
troops based on the Azeri-Iranian border will be transferred to the
US command shortly, Rumsfeld said that he was not aware of this.
Defense Minister Abiyev's statement that Azerbaijan is in need of US
assistance in ensuring security of the Caspian Sea, the legal status
of which has yet to be determined, could have been directed against
Iran. The Minister, in fact, requested assistance from US in securing
oil fields in the Caspian, which are under a particular threat from
Iran. In summer 2001, Iranian navy attacked a research vessel leased
by BP to carry out geo-physical measurement work in an oil field in a
southern section of the Caspian Sea. Tehran explained this by saying
that the oil field actually belongs to Iran. Following the incident
BP suspended the development of the field in question on the grounds
that the Azerbaijani side was not able to ensure safety of the
operations. The operations of the field have not resumed ever since.
In a nutshell, Defense Minister Abiyev's statement enables a
conclusion that Iran-related issues were in the focus of the talks
held in Baku. Another issue that raises concerns for the USA is the
strengthening ties between Baku and Moscow and the developing
military relations. The invigorating influence of Russia and Iran on
Baku may question US military presence in the region. This perturbs
the USA, especially in light of a possible destabilization of the
situation in Iran. Most likely Rumsfeld tried to receive accurate
answers from the Azeri leadership on these issues. Commenting on the
US official's visit to Baku, former state adviser, Vafa Guluzada said
Azerbaijan simply has no choice. Baku needs to forge closer ties with
Moscow and Tehran in view of settling the Upper Garabagh conflict.
"If the USA continues to turn a blind eye to the current situation,
it may lose Azerbaijan as a strategic partner", he said. The accuracy
of Guluzada's statement could be supported by the fact that next week
Azeri foreign minister is expected to leave for Moscow to discuss the
Upper Garabagh conflict. Major US political analysts adhere to a
similar position. For instance, an article by Brenda Shaffer, head of
the Caspian Studies Program at Harvard University, published on a BBC
web site, says that before the presidential election Washington is
not likely to put forth any major political initiatives on Upper
Garabagh, as the current administration tends to avoid discussions on
foreign policy issues in the pre-election period. The story also said
that settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict has not become a
priority in the US foreign policy despite the country's major
interests in the region. Washington does not view the conflict as a
serious hurdle for the implementation of energy projects in the
region.
Aug 19 2004
US concerned over latest policy trends
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Baku as part of his
visit to the US allies in the region last Wednesday. In a meeting
with Rumsfeld on Thursday, President Ilham Aliyev said the visit by
the US government officials and Congressmen to Azerbaijan shows the
rapidly expanding bilateral relations.
He noted that the USA and Azerbaijan are jointly developing energy
projects and successfully cooperating in security and other areas.
The President also expressed his satisfaction with the level of
military collaboration and said he was confident of the further
expansion of economic, military, and cultural partnership between the
two countries. "I am confident that in the future we will further
strengthen our ties to become a closer friend and ally", Aliyev said.
Secretary Rumsfeld pointed out the rapidly expanding security
cooperation and said Washington appreciates Azerbaijan's efforts in
the war on terrorism and its support for the anti-terror coalition in
Afghanistan and Iraq. "I agree completely that the security
relationship between our two countries continues to grow and
strengthen", he said. The US official also stressed the importance of
successful cooperation between the USA and Azerbaijan within the NATO
Partnership for Peace program and added that this will further
promote Azerbaijan's collaboration with NATO and the USA. Azerbaijan
is the only predominantly Muslim country that has contributed to the
multinational coalition assisting the forces of the Iraqi interim
government.
Rumsfeld dodges question on Upper Garabagh
Defense Minister Safar Abiyev and Secretary Rumsfeld held a news
conference following the negotiations held in Baku at the Heydar
Aliyev Airport of Baku. Rumsfeld said that in his meetings with
President Aliyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev he thanked the
Azerbaijani people for the contribution to anti-terror operations.
Touching upon the details of the talks held in Baku, the US Defense
Secretary said issues of bilateral cooperation were discussed. He
said the US cooperation with Azerbaijan in this area promotes the
tranquility in the Caspian region, fighting international terrorism,
smuggle of goods, transit of narcotics, and weapons of mass
destruction. "The American people appreciate Azerbaijan's efforts at
fighting terrorism globally and our military cooperation will
continue", Rumsfeld said. He noted that he did not discuss with
President Aliyev the issue of expanding the contingent of Azerbaijani
peacekeepers in Iraq an Afghanistan. At the same time, Rumsfeld said
the USA was in talks with its allies on the upcoming presidential
election in Iraq and that he discussed the issue with Azerbaijani
government officials. "Assistance of various countries is needed to
hold the election", he added. He avoided a question on whether the US
could step up assistance in settling the Upper Garabagh conflict and
make changes to its policy in this respect. Rumsfeld said that
Washington was involved in the Minsk Group and that the USA has
appointed a new ambassador to deal with the conflict settlement. "As
you know, the United States supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan", he added. Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev who
attended the news conference called on the United States to demand
that Armenia withdraw from the occupied land of Azerbaijan. Abiyev
pointed out the rapidly developing military cooperation between the
two countries. One of the issues discussed during the talks in Baku
was ensuring the security of the Caspian Sea, in particular, securing
oil fields. "The fact that the Caspian legal status has not been
resolved yet is a problem. Azerbaijan hopes for US support in this
area", he said. Touching upon the involvement of Azerbaijani
peacekeepers in Iraq, Abiyev said this was a political issue and that
it could be addressed only after a political decision is made. With
regard to Iran's nuclear program, Rumsfeld said it represents a
threat for the neighboring countries. Referring to the recent visit
by the Iranian President Khatami to Baku, the US Defense Secretary
said he discussed the issue with President Ilham Aliyev. The visit
came as a surprise and no information was provided earlier as to its
purpose or program. Moreover, the unexpected visit can be explained
by Washington's concerns over the latest trends in the policy pursued
by Baku. The USA is also concerned with some internal political
processes ongoing in Azerbaijan and there are valid reasons for this.
This country is perturbed with the recent visit by Iranian President
Mohammad Khatami to Azerbaijan and its potential consequences, in
particular, prospects for further rapprochement in the positions of
Baku and Tehran. It is not by mere chance that the US Defense
Secretary admitted that he discussed the results of President
Khatami's visit to Baku in his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.
At the same time, he noted that the USA is not concerned over the
developing relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. Commenting on the
recent reports released by Iranian media saying that Azerbaijani
troops based on the Azeri-Iranian border will be transferred to the
US command shortly, Rumsfeld said that he was not aware of this.
Defense Minister Abiyev's statement that Azerbaijan is in need of US
assistance in ensuring security of the Caspian Sea, the legal status
of which has yet to be determined, could have been directed against
Iran. The Minister, in fact, requested assistance from US in securing
oil fields in the Caspian, which are under a particular threat from
Iran. In summer 2001, Iranian navy attacked a research vessel leased
by BP to carry out geo-physical measurement work in an oil field in a
southern section of the Caspian Sea. Tehran explained this by saying
that the oil field actually belongs to Iran. Following the incident
BP suspended the development of the field in question on the grounds
that the Azerbaijani side was not able to ensure safety of the
operations. The operations of the field have not resumed ever since.
In a nutshell, Defense Minister Abiyev's statement enables a
conclusion that Iran-related issues were in the focus of the talks
held in Baku. Another issue that raises concerns for the USA is the
strengthening ties between Baku and Moscow and the developing
military relations. The invigorating influence of Russia and Iran on
Baku may question US military presence in the region. This perturbs
the USA, especially in light of a possible destabilization of the
situation in Iran. Most likely Rumsfeld tried to receive accurate
answers from the Azeri leadership on these issues. Commenting on the
US official's visit to Baku, former state adviser, Vafa Guluzada said
Azerbaijan simply has no choice. Baku needs to forge closer ties with
Moscow and Tehran in view of settling the Upper Garabagh conflict.
"If the USA continues to turn a blind eye to the current situation,
it may lose Azerbaijan as a strategic partner", he said. The accuracy
of Guluzada's statement could be supported by the fact that next week
Azeri foreign minister is expected to leave for Moscow to discuss the
Upper Garabagh conflict. Major US political analysts adhere to a
similar position. For instance, an article by Brenda Shaffer, head of
the Caspian Studies Program at Harvard University, published on a BBC
web site, says that before the presidential election Washington is
not likely to put forth any major political initiatives on Upper
Garabagh, as the current administration tends to avoid discussions on
foreign policy issues in the pre-election period. The story also said
that settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict has not become a
priority in the US foreign policy despite the country's major
interests in the region. Washington does not view the conflict as a
serious hurdle for the implementation of energy projects in the
region.