AZERBAIJAN: A powerful U.S. ally

I join the Azeri-Americans, members of the Azerbaijani-American Council (AAC), in expressing my gratitude to the people of the great state of Arizona for the adoption of Senate Resolution 1008. SR 1008 highlights the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and the Republic of Azerbaijan; appeals for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Between 1991 and 1994, the post-Soviet Eurasian nations of Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war over the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict took nearly 30,000 lives, resulted in the Armenian military occupation of fifth of Azerbaijan and the expulsion of close to a million Azerbaijani civilians from their homes. The ongoing occupation and the plight of Azerbaijani refugees remain serious obstacles to peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus thereby affecting U.S. interests in that region.

For the past 22 years since its independence, Azerbaijan has been a strategic ally of the United States in the vital region between Russia and Iran. In response to the 9/11 attacks, Azerbaijan immediately opened its airspace and airports in support of the U.S. led operations in Afghanistan. In addition, Azerbaijanis took part alongside our troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan missions, and the country remains a key U.S. partner in ensuring European and global energy security.

Thank you once more for SR 1008.

RUSLAN BABAYEV

PARVANA GARAYEVA

Spokane