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US AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH DIASPORA START CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAN'S PRESSURE ON AZERBAIJAN
APA
Feb 17 2012
Azerbaijan
To support Azerbaijan's independence and sovereignty, the Azerbaijani
and Turkish Diaspora in the US have started an immediate campaign
against Iran's pressure on Azerbaijan.
The US Azerbaijani Network, a main organizer called an action, to
make sure the Congress and US media are more aware about the recent
events and stand strongly with their regional ally.
"The past weeks saw a rapid deterioration of relations between
the international community and Iran, which has adversely affected
regional allies of the United States, Israel, and the West. Iran
stepped up aggressive rhetoric and propaganda against Azerbaijan,
a staunch US and Israel ally", read the letters.
The authors remind that, Azerbaijan, which is the size of the state
of Maine, and itself a victim of armed aggression, occupation and
genocidal policies by Armenian military (such as in Khojaly in
February 26, 1992), has been trying to be on good terms with its
powerful southern neighbor, as Iran has a significant population
of ethnic Azerbaijanis living there (up to 30% of the population),
who are persecuted and discriminated for their ethnic and linguistic
"differences" with the ruling Persians. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan
wants peace and stability on its borders and has centuries of bond
and friendship with all people of Iran, after all, Azerbaijanis have
ruled Iran and other adjacent lands for a millennium.
"However, Iranian government TV and radio's illegal broadcasts continue
into Azerbaijan, its pseudo-religious and pan-Iranian propaganda does
not seem to subside, and it continues to make threats and various
unfriendly gestures towards Azerbaijan, that include killing of
journalists such as Rafik Tagi in Baku in November 2011 and attempting
to blow up Israeli embassy in Baku in January 2012", they note.
According to the Diaspora members, "one should consider the
reasoning behind Iranian government's thinking, succinctly put by
Michael Eisenstadt: "Iran tacitly supported Armenia in its war with
Azerbaijan" - because Iranian government wants to see Azerbaijan weak
and failed. Armenia and its enterprises, which have been previously
sanctioned by the U.S. Government for nuclear proliferation and
weapons trading with Iran, are occupying Karabakh region, which is
16% of Azerbaijan on the border with Iran, turning Karabakh into an
uncontrolled area and a black hole for drug trade, weapons trafficking
and other illegal activities".
"And when, as we recently learned from media interviews, the chief
of Azerbaijan's Border Service requested to meet with his Iranian
counterpart, over the unnecessary killing of an Azerbaijani border
guard by Iranian border guards in July 2011, the Iranian general
has not responded, for several months now. It is hard to maintain
peaceful and healthy relations when officials cannot even meet,
or when one side's generals make various unhealthy and unheard of
racist statements about Azerbaijanis' "blood in veins", or about the
12th century great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi".
The letters also remind that there are numerous statements in
official state Iranian media since 1991 breakup of USSR about annexing
Azerbaijan to Iran, and other attempts to deny Azerbaijan its right
of existence and its own history - just like it is being done to the
ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran itself.
"As a consequence, it is the moral responsibility of the US Government
and all branches of government is to show their support to their
strategic ally in that turbulent region and stand strong with
Azerbaijan. Such support should range from statements and resolutions
in support of sovereign and independent Azerbaijan, to supplying it
with defensive systems such as Patriot air-defense systems to protect
Azerbaijan's energy infrastructure", say the Diaspora.
APA
Feb 17 2012
Azerbaijan
To support Azerbaijan's independence and sovereignty, the Azerbaijani
and Turkish Diaspora in the US have started an immediate campaign
against Iran's pressure on Azerbaijan.
The US Azerbaijani Network, a main organizer called an action, to
make sure the Congress and US media are more aware about the recent
events and stand strongly with their regional ally.
"The past weeks saw a rapid deterioration of relations between
the international community and Iran, which has adversely affected
regional allies of the United States, Israel, and the West. Iran
stepped up aggressive rhetoric and propaganda against Azerbaijan,
a staunch US and Israel ally", read the letters.
The authors remind that, Azerbaijan, which is the size of the state
of Maine, and itself a victim of armed aggression, occupation and
genocidal policies by Armenian military (such as in Khojaly in
February 26, 1992), has been trying to be on good terms with its
powerful southern neighbor, as Iran has a significant population
of ethnic Azerbaijanis living there (up to 30% of the population),
who are persecuted and discriminated for their ethnic and linguistic
"differences" with the ruling Persians. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan
wants peace and stability on its borders and has centuries of bond
and friendship with all people of Iran, after all, Azerbaijanis have
ruled Iran and other adjacent lands for a millennium.
"However, Iranian government TV and radio's illegal broadcasts continue
into Azerbaijan, its pseudo-religious and pan-Iranian propaganda does
not seem to subside, and it continues to make threats and various
unfriendly gestures towards Azerbaijan, that include killing of
journalists such as Rafik Tagi in Baku in November 2011 and attempting
to blow up Israeli embassy in Baku in January 2012", they note.
According to the Diaspora members, "one should consider the
reasoning behind Iranian government's thinking, succinctly put by
Michael Eisenstadt: "Iran tacitly supported Armenia in its war with
Azerbaijan" - because Iranian government wants to see Azerbaijan weak
and failed. Armenia and its enterprises, which have been previously
sanctioned by the U.S. Government for nuclear proliferation and
weapons trading with Iran, are occupying Karabakh region, which is
16% of Azerbaijan on the border with Iran, turning Karabakh into an
uncontrolled area and a black hole for drug trade, weapons trafficking
and other illegal activities".
"And when, as we recently learned from media interviews, the chief
of Azerbaijan's Border Service requested to meet with his Iranian
counterpart, over the unnecessary killing of an Azerbaijani border
guard by Iranian border guards in July 2011, the Iranian general
has not responded, for several months now. It is hard to maintain
peaceful and healthy relations when officials cannot even meet,
or when one side's generals make various unhealthy and unheard of
racist statements about Azerbaijanis' "blood in veins", or about the
12th century great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi".
The letters also remind that there are numerous statements in
official state Iranian media since 1991 breakup of USSR about annexing
Azerbaijan to Iran, and other attempts to deny Azerbaijan its right
of existence and its own history - just like it is being done to the
ethnic Azerbaijanis in Iran itself.
"As a consequence, it is the moral responsibility of the US Government
and all branches of government is to show their support to their
strategic ally in that turbulent region and stand strong with
Azerbaijan. Such support should range from statements and resolutions
in support of sovereign and independent Azerbaijan, to supplying it
with defensive systems such as Patriot air-defense systems to protect
Azerbaijan's energy infrastructure", say the Diaspora.