US Assistant Secretary of State assures military aid provided to Azerbaijan is not used against Armenia

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. During its contacts with Baku, Washington always raises its concerns about human rights in Azerbaijan, USAssistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Karen Donfried, said during the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on US policy in the Caucasus.

During the hearing Congressman Jim Costa raised the issue of the Armenian prisoners of war and the gross violations of human rights in Azerbaijan, asking whether Washington raises these topics during the talks.

“I can assure you that human rights is a critical part of the conversation. It is something we focus on very clearly. I spoke with both foreign ministers last week, and I had a part of my conversation with Foreign Minister Bayramov of Azerbaijan focus specifically on human rights. We always raise our pressing concerns about human rights in Azerbaijan, whether it relates to reports of arbitrary and unlawful killings in police custody, torture and cruel, inhuman treatment, lack of independent judiciary, restrictions on freedom of movement”, Karen Donfried said in response.

Congressman Jim Costa called unacceptable the fact that the US government still continues providing military aid to Azerbaijan despite the human rights violations there.

“I want to be very clear about this: the June 2022 decision to extend the Waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act was taken following a very close review by the inner-agency of US priorities in the region, as well as current and planned assistance to the government of Azerbaijan”, Karen Donfried said, adding that they followed very closely the recommendations. “And we calibrate all security assistance to Azerbaijan to ensure that it is not used for offensive purposes against Armenia and does not undermine or hamper ongoing efforts to negotiate a long-term political settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh region”, she added.

Karen Donfried said the security assistance given to Azerbaijan strengthens the ability of peacekeeping forces to help secure Azerbaijan’s 475 mile border with Iran and provide security for energy sources critical for US allies in Europe. “We are providing non-lethal border security assistance”, she said.