Tweet
EurasiaNet.org
Feb 15 2015
Azerbaijan: U.S. Doesn't Appreciate Us
February 15, 2015 - 1:48pm, by Joshua Kucera
After a U.S. Congressional committee held a hearing critically
examining U.S.-Azerbaijan relations, Azerbaijan's parliament responded
with a retaliatory event of its own, accusing the U.S. of ignoring
Baku's strategic cooperation with Washington.
On February 12, the House's Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and
Emerging Threats held a hearing, "Azerbaijan: U.S. Energy, Security,
and Human Rights Interests." As expected, members of Congress and
American experts on Azerbaijan criticized Baku for its accelerating
crackdown on any opposing voices in the country, including the raid on
and closure of the U.S. government-funded RFE/RL office.
Baku has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of the U.S., and
this time took the step of organizing its own counter-hearing just two
days later, "Energy and Security Cooperation: Partnership Based on
Mutual Interests." Azerbaijani opposition website contact.az noted
that government officials in Baku resent what they see as ingratitude
for the contributions that they make to U.S. security interests:
The head of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations Samad
Seyidov described relations between the two countries 'strategic
partnership'. He further spoke about the support that Azerbaijan
provides to Washington and how the US does not appreciate this.
Azerbaijan and the United States cooperate closely in combating
international terrorism, through Azerbaijan there is transit for
coalition forces in Afghanistan, the Azerbaijani servicemen are in the
coalition, providing airport security in Kabul. In addition,
Azerbaijan provides energy security of Western countries.
"Therefore, we expect a fair and adequate treatment from the United
States, and especially in the Karabakh conflict," Seyidov said,
alluding to the bias of the United States in this matter.
One of the witnesses at the Washington hearing, former ambassador to
Baku Richard Kauzlarich, was also the subject of an ad hominem
takedown in the Azerbaijani press, in which he was accused of being a
"loser" with a "weakness for alcohol."
Interestingly, in none of Baku's criticisms of Washington's criticisms
was there a defense of Azerbaijan's policies on human rights and
dissent. The focus seemed to be solely on Azerbaijan's strategic
interest to the U.S. and Washington's shortsightedness in not valuing
that over human rights problems. Kauzlarich, that article noted, tries
to make the case that Azerbaijan is becoming less important a partner
for the U.S., "while officials from his government say the opposite."
As long as they are important enough strategically, officials in Baku
appear to be thinking, they can get away with whatever they want to do
internally.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/72091
Feb 15 2015
Azerbaijan: U.S. Doesn't Appreciate Us
February 15, 2015 - 1:48pm, by Joshua Kucera
After a U.S. Congressional committee held a hearing critically
examining U.S.-Azerbaijan relations, Azerbaijan's parliament responded
with a retaliatory event of its own, accusing the U.S. of ignoring
Baku's strategic cooperation with Washington.
On February 12, the House's Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and
Emerging Threats held a hearing, "Azerbaijan: U.S. Energy, Security,
and Human Rights Interests." As expected, members of Congress and
American experts on Azerbaijan criticized Baku for its accelerating
crackdown on any opposing voices in the country, including the raid on
and closure of the U.S. government-funded RFE/RL office.
Baku has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of the U.S., and
this time took the step of organizing its own counter-hearing just two
days later, "Energy and Security Cooperation: Partnership Based on
Mutual Interests." Azerbaijani opposition website contact.az noted
that government officials in Baku resent what they see as ingratitude
for the contributions that they make to U.S. security interests:
The head of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations Samad
Seyidov described relations between the two countries 'strategic
partnership'. He further spoke about the support that Azerbaijan
provides to Washington and how the US does not appreciate this.
Azerbaijan and the United States cooperate closely in combating
international terrorism, through Azerbaijan there is transit for
coalition forces in Afghanistan, the Azerbaijani servicemen are in the
coalition, providing airport security in Kabul. In addition,
Azerbaijan provides energy security of Western countries.
"Therefore, we expect a fair and adequate treatment from the United
States, and especially in the Karabakh conflict," Seyidov said,
alluding to the bias of the United States in this matter.
One of the witnesses at the Washington hearing, former ambassador to
Baku Richard Kauzlarich, was also the subject of an ad hominem
takedown in the Azerbaijani press, in which he was accused of being a
"loser" with a "weakness for alcohol."
Interestingly, in none of Baku's criticisms of Washington's criticisms
was there a defense of Azerbaijan's policies on human rights and
dissent. The focus seemed to be solely on Azerbaijan's strategic
interest to the U.S. and Washington's shortsightedness in not valuing
that over human rights problems. Kauzlarich, that article noted, tries
to make the case that Azerbaijan is becoming less important a partner
for the U.S., "while officials from his government say the opposite."
As long as they are important enough strategically, officials in Baku
appear to be thinking, they can get away with whatever they want to do
internally.
http://www.eurasianet.org/node/72091