The new chair of the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee referred to as Washington to halt help to Azerbaijan and ramp up assist for Armenia.
The U.S. “must both prioritize support for the Armenians who have been expelled and hold Azerbaijan accountable,” stated Cardin.
“As we look forward, we must take steps to ensure that Azerbaijan does not advance militarily in pursuit of further territorial gains, including forcefully condemning inflammatory rhetoric,” he stated.
He referred to as on the U.S. to halt safety help as leverage to forestall Azerbaijan from forcibly searching for a land hall inside Armenia to connect with its exclave of Nakhchivan.
U.S. help to Azerbaijan is already restricted by Congress, which, underneath a 1992 regulation, has prohibited safety help. But American presidents have waived the restrictions yearly, citing U.S. nationwide safety pursuits.
A U.S. authorities report final 12 months stated Azerbaijan acquired $164 million in U.S. safety help between 2002 and 2020.
Azerbaijan has shut ties with Türkiye and Israel, with its oil wealth permitting it to ramp up its army lately.
Cardin took over final month from Senator Bob Menendez, who was indicted on corruption allegations.
“The U.S. should also continue to support democratic reforms that Armenia’s leadership has taken in recent years, including efforts to promote transparency, good governance, and economic cooperation with the U.S. and Western Europe more broadly,” he added.
The Azerbaijani military initiated an anti-terrorism initiative on Sept. 19 in Karabakh to ascertain constitutional order within the area.
Illegal Armenian armed forces in Karabakh surrendered after 24-hour counterterrorism steps.
Following the measures, Azerbaijan established full sovereignty within the area and urged the Armenian inhabitants to develop into a part of Azerbaijani society.
Source: www.dailysabah.com