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Satellite News
Vol. 34 No. 18
May 4, 2011 Wednesday
U.S. Ex-Im Bank, Obama Come Under Fire for Azerbaijan Satellite Financing Deal
By Jeffrey Hill
[Satellite News 04-28-11] The U.S. Export-Import Bank has voted to
approve BNP Parabis' application to finance Azerbaijan's Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies purchase of the
Azerspace/Africasat- 1A satellite from Orbital Sciences, the U.S.
Ex-Im Bank announced April 27.
During a period of 26 months, Orbital Sciences will fit the satellite
with 36 Ku- and C-band transponders to deliver communications services
for Azerbaijan as well as Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East and
Africa. The Ex-Im loan is being guaranteed by Azerbaijan's Ministry of
Finance.
The decision to approve the financing deal came under fire from the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and members of U.S.
Congress due to the fact that, just weeks ago, the Azerbaijan military
threatened to shoot down a civilian airliner. In a statement, ANCA
blasted both the U.S. Ex-Im Bank and the Obama Administration for
authorizing financial support for what it believes will strengthen
Azerbaijan's military capabilities to initiate threats and acts of
aggression against both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
"We are troubled that the Export-Import Bank chose to move forward
with this ill-advised deal," ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian
said in the statement. "The Obama Administration's business-as-usual
approach undermines America's long-term interests in stability in this
region. We should not, in any way, use American resources to reward
warmongering or add to the capabilities of a dictator who is openly
threatening to use every asset at his disposal to renew his country's
aggression."
Since February, ANCA has issued a series of statements and held
meetings with senior officials of the Ex-Im Bank and the U.S. State
Department to voice its opposition to the deal. Work on Azerbaijan's
first satellite began in May 2010, when the nation's Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies selected Orbital Sciences
to build the spacecraft and serve as prime contractor.
All major subcontract partners for Azerspace/Africasat-1a are in
place. Orbital Sciences selected Spanish space development company GMV
to provide the satellite's ground system in December. Other
Azerspace/Africasat-1 contracts include a long-term lease agreement
with Measat for use of a Malaysian orbital slot to support the new
satellite and a services deal with Arianespace to launch the
communications satellite on an Ariane 5 rocket.
The Azerbaijan government has long asserted that it would use the
satellite to start developing its space industry. "The Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies and Orbital plan to
establish long and fruitful connections that will strengthen
Azerbaijan specialists' technical abilities," Azerbaijan Ambassador to
the United States Donald Lu said in a statement issued in December.
ANCA said that one of its main concerns is that the satellite deal
lacks transparency. "The Bank's written assurance to us, in the form
of a letter from its President Fred P. Hochberg, that the satellite
'lacks military capabilities' and that it has taken 'appropriate
safeguards' to keep this satellite out of the hands of 'military
entities,' falls short of the level of transparency that should be
required of a highly sensitive deal of this nature.
We continue to call upon the [Obama] Administration to fully disclose
this contract, and to publicly reveal the terms of any and all
obligations entered into by either the U.S. or Azerbaijani governments
regarding this transaction," said Hamparian.
From: A. Papazian
Vol. 34 No. 18
May 4, 2011 Wednesday
U.S. Ex-Im Bank, Obama Come Under Fire for Azerbaijan Satellite Financing Deal
By Jeffrey Hill
[Satellite News 04-28-11] The U.S. Export-Import Bank has voted to
approve BNP Parabis' application to finance Azerbaijan's Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies purchase of the
Azerspace/Africasat- 1A satellite from Orbital Sciences, the U.S.
Ex-Im Bank announced April 27.
During a period of 26 months, Orbital Sciences will fit the satellite
with 36 Ku- and C-band transponders to deliver communications services
for Azerbaijan as well as Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East and
Africa. The Ex-Im loan is being guaranteed by Azerbaijan's Ministry of
Finance.
The decision to approve the financing deal came under fire from the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and members of U.S.
Congress due to the fact that, just weeks ago, the Azerbaijan military
threatened to shoot down a civilian airliner. In a statement, ANCA
blasted both the U.S. Ex-Im Bank and the Obama Administration for
authorizing financial support for what it believes will strengthen
Azerbaijan's military capabilities to initiate threats and acts of
aggression against both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
"We are troubled that the Export-Import Bank chose to move forward
with this ill-advised deal," ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian
said in the statement. "The Obama Administration's business-as-usual
approach undermines America's long-term interests in stability in this
region. We should not, in any way, use American resources to reward
warmongering or add to the capabilities of a dictator who is openly
threatening to use every asset at his disposal to renew his country's
aggression."
Since February, ANCA has issued a series of statements and held
meetings with senior officials of the Ex-Im Bank and the U.S. State
Department to voice its opposition to the deal. Work on Azerbaijan's
first satellite began in May 2010, when the nation's Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies selected Orbital Sciences
to build the spacecraft and serve as prime contractor.
All major subcontract partners for Azerspace/Africasat-1a are in
place. Orbital Sciences selected Spanish space development company GMV
to provide the satellite's ground system in December. Other
Azerspace/Africasat-1 contracts include a long-term lease agreement
with Measat for use of a Malaysian orbital slot to support the new
satellite and a services deal with Arianespace to launch the
communications satellite on an Ariane 5 rocket.
The Azerbaijan government has long asserted that it would use the
satellite to start developing its space industry. "The Ministry of
Communications and Information Technologies and Orbital plan to
establish long and fruitful connections that will strengthen
Azerbaijan specialists' technical abilities," Azerbaijan Ambassador to
the United States Donald Lu said in a statement issued in December.
ANCA said that one of its main concerns is that the satellite deal
lacks transparency. "The Bank's written assurance to us, in the form
of a letter from its President Fred P. Hochberg, that the satellite
'lacks military capabilities' and that it has taken 'appropriate
safeguards' to keep this satellite out of the hands of 'military
entities,' falls short of the level of transparency that should be
required of a highly sensitive deal of this nature.
We continue to call upon the [Obama] Administration to fully disclose
this contract, and to publicly reveal the terms of any and all
obligations entered into by either the U.S. or Azerbaijani governments
regarding this transaction," said Hamparian.
From: A. Papazian