2 February 2009
AssA-Irada

The United States intends to allocate $9.5 million this year for boosting Azerbaijan’s military potential as well as measures aiming to strengthen the protection of the country’s borders.

The US government’s letter forwarded to Congress points out the need to increase financial assistance to the South Caucasus republic, explaining this by its extensive contribution to international anti-terror operations. It said the Azerbaijani authorities, along with supporting the world community’s efforts in fighting terror, are actively cooperating with Washington.

As for arch-foe Armenia, the US government reduced its aid by three times to $2.5 million. During discussions on the issue in Congress, some lawmakers accused the country of taking steps contradicting US interests in the past years. Commentators explain this by the Armenian lobby’s losing its levers of influence on US foreign policy. They also say the White House deems Azerbaijan as a closer strategic partner.

The Washington Times newspaper said that after the September 11 attacks, outright U.S. interference with the process of settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh is an inevitable geo-political condition. Washington is presently bound with the South Caucasus not only due to its economic interests. This region’s geographic proximity to the regions where anti-terror operations are under way is prompting the U.S. to be more unequivocal and resolute in its foreign policy decisions.