Partnerships and Possibilities
By Yashar Aliyev, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States
After regaining its independence in 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan announced its commitment to the transformation and construction of a democratic society based on the rule of law. The establishment of an open market society through economic reforms and development projects is an integral part of this commitment. It is my honor, as Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States to take the opportunity to elaborate on many of the steps we have taken as a nation to achieve this commitment and to highlight prospects for the future. Azerbaijan has joined almost all major international treaties on human rights and has covered considerable ground in bringing itself closer to international democratic standards. The government has passed laws and enacted state programs that enhance the social well-being of the Azerbaijani people, foster economic growth and seek to eliminate poverty and corruption. The creation of the Office of the Ombudsperson in 2001, the adoption of a national plan of action to combat human trafficking in 2004 and the approval of a national plan of action to protect human rights in 2006 show the government’s loyalty to democratization and the rule of law. Azerbaijan is also committed to integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. As such, Azerbaijan has been a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program since 1994, and has been a vigorous participant and host of many events within the NATO framework. Currently, Azerbaijan is in the process of completing its Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO and is an active participant in the Partnership Action Plan against Terrorism.
Azerbaijan has become an indispensable link in ensuring the energy security of European consumers and of the development of trade within the region.
A strong partnership with the U.S. has been of critical importance for Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Our bilateral relations have endured the significant challenge of the adoption of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act in 1992 by the U.S. Congress, which prohibits direct assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan. We are pleased to note, however, that our relations entered a new stage following the annual waiver of this legislation by presidential order since 2002. Still, the total abolishment of this legislation is critical to opening up new horizons for the expansion of our bilateral cooperation. After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Azerbaijan was among the first countries to join the International Anti-Terror Coalition. Today our country remains a staunch ally of the U.S. in the Global War on Terrorism, with Azerbaijani and American soldiers serving shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Azerbaijan’s law-enforcement and other relevant authorities have arrested and
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