‘Section 907’ needlessly undermines US-Azerbaijani relations
‘Azerbaijanis expect America to act justly’ says communications minister Nadir Ahmedov

"I would like to direct some remarks as an Azerbaijani citizen. I was appointed Minister of Communications in 1997. The ministry board working under my leadership and I always looked hopefully to the US for its roles in guarding human rights, establishing democratic principles, and solving global issues. Since that time, our relations with America have been mostly positive, with some exceptions. It is the latter that I want to address here.

"Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act seriously depresses Azerbaijanis and raises rather undesirable feelings about America. Each time we try to remove it, we come closer to a solution, but we haven't succeeded yet. So the Azerbaijani public believes that the Armenian lobby is very strong in America. They point to the great strength of the Armenian lobby in America as the sole reason for the failure to remove section 907.

"One refugee woman asked me: ‘How many Armenians are there in America? And how many Americans altogether? How can this tiny percentage of Armenians in America influence the whole US government? It is very interesting that Armenians, being such a little part of the American population, have such strong power to influence the nation of America.’ Since that woman stated everything so openly, so clearly and completely, I have never returned to discussion of the matter of the Armenian lobby.

"Today America is the center of the world. A majority of Azerbaijanis consider America to be the capital of the globe. Therefore, the people in Azerbaijan have very high expectations that America will act justly in this matter.

"In one of his speeches, President Heydar Aliyev wisely said that it is very difficult to build a policy based on double standards. And, he said, a policy based on double standards will not last forever.

"During the last decade, some nations still have not accepted that Armenia is the aggressor country in this situation. But I believe ‘cheaters never win.’ We all live in the same world, and therefore we need the continued friendship, healthy business relations, and assistance of America."