A group of Azerbaijani MPs has sent a letter to Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, highlighting the double standards Washington applies toward Baku and the pressure the United States is exerting, AzVision.az reports.
The MPs are asking Minister Bayramov to reconsider relations with the U.S., specifically calling for the withdrawal from existing defense cooperation agreements and the suspension of USAID’s activities and projects in the country.
"The letter sent to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on October 3, 2024, by a group of U.S. Senators and Representatives contains racial discrimination against Azerbaijan, is filled with slander, contradicts international law and the principles of dialogue, and supports Armenia’s militarization. The U.S. has consistently ignored the destruction of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage by Armenians and has never condemned their actions.
By rejecting the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, the U.S. is laying the groundwork for renewed conflict in the region, accusing Azerbaijan of the so-called "military aggression" and "ethnic cleansing". Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have overlooked the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia and the peace agreement initiated by Azerbaijan. The Karabakh conflict is resolved, and Azerbaijanis are returning to their historical lands.
Despite the U.S.'s long history of unconstructive actions, Azerbaijan has exercised patience and maintained partnerships, including cooperation on international security through NATO operations. However, starting with Section 907, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Azerbaijan, not Armenia, while ignoring the Khojaly genocide and other atrocities. For the past 30 years, Washington has turned a blind eye to Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands, ethnic cleansing, and destruction of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, essentially encouraging Armenia’s continued aggression.
After Azerbaijan liberated its territories from occupation, the U.S. took steps to reignite tensions by providing Armenia with substantial financial aid for rearmament, emboldening Armenia’s uncooperative stance in peace talks. The April 5, 2024, meeting in Brussels between the U.S., the EU, and Armenia essentially assigned Armenia new military objectives, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region. The letter from U.S. Congress members to Antony Blinken shows that Washington is not interested in maintaining stable bilateral relations with Azerbaijan.
While Azerbaijan remains committed to partnership, constructive relations require mutual effort. Azerbaijan will not bow to pressure, slander, or threats, and U.S. actions only harm its standing in Azerbaijani society. In response to these unfair accusations and threats, Azerbaijan proposes reviewing its agreements with the U.S., suspending joint projects with USAID, and halting the agency’s activities in the country," the letter reads.
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