Azerbaijan America Alliance

The Azerbaijan America Alliance is a non-partisan, non-profit organization providing information broadly about the people, culture, society, industry, history and current events of the Azeri people. The purpose includes research and advocacy on issues of interest to the alliance.

Mission

The mission of the alliance is to foster an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect between the people of Azerbaijan and America. Through academic discussion, cultural programming, and political discourse, the alliance aims to become the premier organization dedicated to promoting a lasting partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States.[1]

Involvement

The Azerbaijan America Alliance hopes to educate congressional representatives on the growing significance of Azerbaijan's relationship with the United States – politically, economically and militarily.

Through this program of education, the alliance hopes to bring renewed focus on the South Caucasus region and, in particular, the role that Azerbaijan plays in the War on Terror - providing troops and allowing free movement of American troops through their territory - and as a market for American businesses.[2]

Political goals

• Expand the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus
• Educate the United States Congress on the geopolitical significance of the relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States
• Repeal Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
• Encourage politicians to help mediate an amicable settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azeri diaspora in the U.S.

The alliance recognizes and respects the important work that existing diaspora groups have done over past decades, building a core community through a variety of grassroots events. The alliance is dedicated to the diaspora.

The alliance intends to, working alongside existing groups, expand and improve the Diaspora`s grassroots efforts - building a community to support the alliance's political initiatives.

Key issues

Section 907

In 1992 Congress passed the Freedom Support Act, which was designed to assist former Soviet republics in their transition to democracy. The only republic excluded from this aid package was Azerbaijan, which was singled out in Section 907 of the Act.

Section 907 bars direct American aid to the Government of Azerbaijan unless the President of the United States certifies to Congress that Azerbaijan is "taking demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh." [3]

The alliance believes this provision is unfair and illogical.

Position of the alliance

Alongside the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, the alliance educates members of Congress about Section 907 and working towards expanding the number of Members who support its repeal.[4]

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Beyond the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the prospect of renewed military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh poses a threat to regional security, the global energy market and the political stability of the South Caucasus.

Position of the alliance

The alliance supports UN General Assembly Resolution 62/243, adopted on March 14, 2008, which reaffirmed the "continued respect and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Azerbaijan "within its internationally recognized borders."[5]

At the same time, the alliance believes that this conflict can only be solved by the elected leaders on all sides. Accordingly, they are working to educate elected officials in the United States and Europe on the need to mediate a resolution to the conflict. The alliance hopes to end the bloodshed which has occurred inNagorno Karabakh for decades, to help refugees – both Armenian and Azeri, and to foster stability and economic development for the region.[6]

Areas of focus

Grassroots and NGOs

While the alliance also works alongside political leaders and business executives, it remains essentially a grassroots organization – serving and relying heavily on the Azeri-American community for its success. The alliance hopes that through their efforts they can bring together Azeris to agree with them.[7]

Academia and think tanks

The alliance is engaging influential members of the academic community in order to highlight the growing importance of the Caucasus region in 21st century geopolitical conflicts. In this way, they hope to expand the number of centers which cover Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region.[8]

The alliance will also work with them to expand the number of fellowships, internships and exchanges available to students and academics who wish to study the region.

Business and economy

The alliance works to strengthen Azeri-American business ties through the development of formal relationships between businesses in each country, as well as working with existing multinationals to expand their footprint in Azerbaijan.

The alliance has also begun to engage with institutional investors and executives who are less familiar with Azerbaijan in order to highlight available opportunities in the Azerbaijani economy. In doing so, they hope to expand and diversify Azerbaijan's share of foreign direct investment which comes from the United States.[9]

Politics and decision-makers

The Azeri diaspora has allies on Capitol Hill in the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus,[10] whose members will play a role in helping the alliance achieve their stated goals. Congressmen Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Dan Boren (D-OK) serve as the co-Chairs of the Caucus and are notably supportive of the Azerbaijani community in America.[11]

The alliance will work with Congressmen Shuster and Boren to expand the Caucus's membership and promote a greater degree of engagement from existing members. In particular, the Alliance intends to make progress towards repealing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, as Azerbaijan has aided the United States in the War on Terror.

Energy and regional security

As the core component of its economy and one of its strongest links to the United States and Europe, Azerbaijan's energy sector plays an integral role to its international relations. The Alliance has begun to develop relationships with industry leaders in each area to ensure that Azerbaijan's relations with each continue to develop.

The Alliance hopes to emphasize the role that Azerbaijan plays as a stable, pro-Western democracy in a hostile region. Furthermore, it states that its material and rhetorical backing for the War on Terror is deserving of greater recognition and support from its allies in NATO – particularly the United States.[12]

International

While primarily focused on US-Azerbaijani relations, the alliance supports the development of closer ties between the EU and Azerbaijan. It will be working with like-minded diaspora groups in Europe to find areas of cooperation which can advance their shared ambitions.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  3. ↑ http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&dbname=cp106&sid=cp106Ynxmk&refer=&r_n=sr045.106&item=&sel=TOC_88285&
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  5. ↑ "Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 14 March 2008 – The situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan". United Nations. 14 March 2008. A/RES/62/243. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-16. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
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