“There are very strong ties between the United States and Azerbaijan on almost all major global issues today,” Khazar Ibrahim, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. said during his interview with Diplomatic Watch magazine.

“Given Azerbaijan’s strategic location, it’s inevitable that our relations with the U.S. will continue to develop. Azerbaijan plays a role in nearly every critical issue that matters to the United States. And for Azerbaijan, the U.S. is important, not just because it’s a global superpower, but also because we share many interests and values,” the ambassador underlined.

“However, I must point out that Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which you mentioned, is a domestic political issue within the United States. It is not a national security issue, nor is it an international relations or foreign policy matter. Section 907 was imposed on Azerbaijan—unjustly, as many Americans themselves acknowledge—at a time when Azerbaijani territories were under occupation and ethnic cleansing was taking place. But it happened because certain lobbying groups in Congress pushed for it.

We have repeatedly heard that this was an unfair decision. I’ve even heard members of Congress admit it. Still, they say, “All politics is local,” and that’s why some members remain active in pushing the administration to maintain Section 907. That’s their domestic issue. My focus is on building relations. Removing this obstacle would be critical at a time when the U.S. has so many strategic interests in our region and globally.

Despite Section 907—what I would call a moral stain on those who voted for it—we have still managed to develop long-term relations with the United States. I believe our relations will continue to grow—hopefully, without Section 907,” Khazar Ibrahim added.

Malahat Najafova

Special correspondent