2024-10-06 04:50:56
Author: Elchin Alioglu
Source: Trend
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev‘s sharp criticism of the policies of the United States and other Western countries during his meeting with the residents of Jabrayil on October 4, especially his destructive steps aimed at restoring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country without the consent of the West, caused a great resonance in the international political arena.
The head of state emphasized that Azerbaijan today’s success has become a serious defeat for his “friends of goodwill”.
“Today is a day of mourning for the anti-Azerbaijani forces. How is it possible that Azerbaijan restored its rights without taking permission from anyone, without consulting anyone, without fearing anyone? We did it with our own strength and the sacrifice of our children. May they forgive us for this. “Today, the United States applies sanctions against Azerbaijan. And then they say, ‘Let’s strengthen our friendship.'” said the head of state.
This speech once again shows that Azerbaijan should rely only on its own strength of the West should not be deceived by empty promises, flattering words and false statements.
The President reminded that the USA imposed sanctions on our country in 1992, when Azerbaijan lost its lands, but these sanctions were canceled only in 2001. Amendment 907, passed by the US Congress in 1992 and added to the Freedom Support Act, banned aid to Azerbaijan due to its conflict with Armenia. Only during the US military intervention in Afghanistan, under the pretext of “fighting terrorism”, in 2001, the sanctions were temporarily suspended.
Until now, the US president has decided to suspend the sanctions every year, but it was not expected to take effect again until August 2023. President Aliyev characterized this hypocritical policy as follows: “After the US started its invasion policy in Afghanistan, they needed us. During their stay in Afghanistan, these sanctions were canceled by the US president every year. However, after we fled from Afghanistan in front of the whole world, sanctions were again imposed on us. “.
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These statements show that the hostile policy continued by America is not only limited to the past, but also continues in the post-conflict period. Especially USA 60 pro-Armenian members of Congress appealed to the US government to face further sanctions against Azerbaijan. As President Aliyev noted, these attempts cannot shake the will of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan will not back down from protecting its national interests.
A group of 60 members of the US Congress – senators and representatives – led by Frank Pallone and Ed Markey signed a joint letter on the eve of the UN climate summit COP29 accusing Azerbaijan of “war crimes” and calling for sanctions. In the letter addressed to the US State Department and sent to the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, “Azerbaijan’s occupation of the territories of Armenia, capture of prisoners of war and non-compliance with international law norms” were made. These absurd accusations are kept on the agenda through the Armenian diaspora, which has strong lobbying support in the United States, and such letters serve political purposes.
In the letter of the members of the US Congress, it was emphasized that “on the eve of the COP29 summit, pressure should be put on the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev”. The goal is related to claims that Azerbaijan allegedly violates human rights and international law norms in the region. In the letter, Azerbaijan’s military operations in Karabakh, the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, and the “ethnic cleansing” allegedly carried out against ethnic Armenians in September 2023 were given special attention.
Signing the letter, in fact, can be evaluated as an act that serves personal and political interests more than Armenian lobbying and national interests.
These accusations, which are in favor of Azerbaijan’s position, contradict the principles of international law. Official Baku has always tried to liberate its territories from occupation based on the application of international law, and there is a legal basis for this process. During its military operations in the Karabakh region, Azerbaijan took steps aimed at creating stability in the region while maintaining its commitment to international law and laws. The claims put forward in the letter are related to the pressures of Congress members in the sphere of influence of the Armenian diaspora.
The senators also appealed to the State Department and demanded that Azerbaijan “immediately release all captured political prisoners and prisoners of war” (!). The reason behind these demands is the introduction of an approach that distorts the realities of Azerbaijan.
The authors of the letter consider Azerbaijan’s military operations to be “illegal” and their position is a blow to the establishment of peace in the region. However, the measures implemented by Azerbaijan in the Lachin Corridor are within the framework of international law and are located in its sovereign territory.
These claims put forward by the Armenian lobbies within the US Congress also consist of baseless ideas that Azerbaijan violates human rights. But the authors of this letter and the lobbyists behind them take a one-sided position on the situation in the region without considering the realities.
On the other hand, member of the US House of Representatives, congressman Adam Schiff, in his turn, came up with a biased proposal and put forward a bill accusing Azerbaijan. Schiff’s proposal serves the interests of the Armenian diaspora in the US Congress and accuses Azerbaijan of alleged “ethnic cleansing”. Within the framework of this project, it is envisaged to “freeze the financial assets of Azerbaijan and give them as compensation to the Armenian community”. Such a stupid and idiotic proposal is completely unfair and illegal.
Because it contradicts the basic principles of international law and threatens stability in the region. This initiative of Schiff can be considered as a political game that disgusts the primitiveness that serves the interests of the Armenian lobby.
Adam Schiff’s proposal overshadows peace and stability in the region and serves the interests of the Armenian community. However, the war crimes and ethnic cleansing attempts committed by Armenia on the territory of Azerbaijan are ignored. By accusing Azerbaijan with this proposal, Schiff is trying to distort the realities that exist at the international level.
Such prejudicial claims and suggestions show contempt for the United States’ internationally accepted legal norms and principles. Azerbaijan has the right to liberate its territories from occupation, and its military operations in the Karabakh region are within the framework of international law. Based on these legal principles, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity.
Official Baku has repeatedly stressed that the war crimes committed by Armenia in the occupied Azerbaijani lands for years, especially the Khojaly tragedy, are crimes recognized at the international level. However, certain groups within the US Congress take a unilateral position without considering these realities.
The UN mission also visited the Karabakh region in September 2023 and confirmed that the Azerbaijani side did not exert any pressure on the civilian population and that the military operations were within the framework of international law. These facts prove that the allegations made in the US Congress are groundless and expose the biased position of the legislators under the influence of the Armenian lobby.
In fact, the mentioned claims do not coincide with the realities in the region and serve more political purposes. Adhering to the norms of international law, Azerbaijan ensured its sovereignty and contributed to the establishment of peace in the region.
Such unilateral positions of certain members of the US Congress harm peace and stability in the region. Azerbaijan conducted operations against Armenian military forces illegally stationed in its territory in accordance with international law. Armenia has violated international law by perpetrating terrorism and violence against the civilian population of Azerbaijan for years. The fact that some members of the US Congress ignore these realities further complicates the situation in the region.
As a result, such proposals and letters put forward in the US Congress are indicative of a biased position and overshadow the establishment of peace in the region. One of the most important factors is the neutral and fair position of the United States to ensure peace in the region.
The anti-Azerbaijani campaigns carried out by various international organizations and Western countries, especially the pressures of the US State Department against Azerbaijan, were clearly exposed in President Aliyev’s speech. “They write letters to themselves, threaten us, accuse us,” the head of state criticized this insincere policy.
It is obvious that this pressure campaign aims to overshadow Azerbaijan’s success at the international level, especially on the eve of the UN COP29 summit. Accusing Azerbaijan of war crimes put forward by the pro-Armenian members of the US Congress and supporting false statements by the US State Department is also an obvious fact, as stated by President Aliyev. Such provocations reaffirm the double standards of the West.
President Ilham Aliyev also reminded that Armenia plays dangerous games and urged them not to forget the consequences of the Second Karabakh War. He clearly stated that Armenia’s attempts to repeat history and make threats again will end in disaster.
The Commander-in-Chief noted that the West, including France, continues to arm Armenia and that they are trying to advance their interests by creating war and chaos in the region. Armenia acts as a pawn in this game and cannot properly assess its consequences. However, Baku, as always, promotes peace initiatives in the region, but is also ready for the development of all kinds of events.
The resolute messages of the head of state showed once again that Azerbaijan will not retreat from its path of independence and will protect its national interests at every step. This is not only a question of restoring the sovereignty of our country, but also a struggle for the protection of the principles of international law.
Azerbaijan is always ready to protect its lands and will never retreat from its mission.