Azerbaijan calls for end to USAID activities following US sanctions, interference
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, has called for the cessation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) activities in the country, criticizing the US for its stance on Azerbaijan's sovereignty and its approach to foreign assistance.
During a joint press conference with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili in Baku on January 16, Bayramov addressed the issue of US interference, specifically referencing the 907th Amendment to the US Freedom Support Act, Caliber.Az reports via local media.
He noted that following Azerbaijan’s 2023 anti-terrorist operation to restore its sovereignty, which lasted 23 hours, the US failed to continue its suspension of the amendment, effectively “punishing” Azerbaijan for asserting its territorial integrity.
“Following Azerbaijan's restoration of its sovereignty in September 2023, we observed actions by the United States that were inconsistent with international law," Bayramov remarked.
"The 907th Amendment, which had been suspended for many years, was not renewed, and after two decades, Azerbaijan was effectively penalized for asserting its legitimate right to restore its sovereignty."
Bayramov also criticized the activities of USAID in Azerbaijan, asserting that they often align more with promoting US interests rather than genuinely supporting the country's development. He emphasized that if the US is to provide assistance, it must be done transparently and through official channels.
“From July 1, 2024, USAID's activities in Azerbaijan will be de jure impossible,” Bayramov declared. "It is time to stop their operations. We have seen that the US continues to ignore Azerbaijan’s national interests, attempting to impose its own agenda. USAID’s continued presence in Azerbaijan is unnecessary, and the time has come to bring their activities to a complete end."
By Vafa Guliyeva