A bill to repeal section 907 introduced in US Congress

Anna Paulina Luna, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Republican Party, has introduced a bill to repeal Section 907 of the 1992 Freedom Support Act, which prohibits U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan.

The preamble of the bill, published on the official website of the U.S. Congress, cites Azerbaijan’s status as a U.S. ally since the restoration of its independence, its provision of significant support during times of peace and war, its commitment to peace in the South Caucasus, and the achievement of peace with Armenia. The main body of the bill stipulates the repeal of the mentioned section of the 1992 Freedom Support Act.

The principal Armenian lobby organization, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), has launched a campaign against this bill. Frank Pallone and several other pro-Armenian members of Congress, while opposing the bill in question, have also introduced another bill of an anti-Azerbaijani nature. Their proposed legislation envisages a ban on the presidential waiver allowing for the temporary suspension of the implementation of Section 907.

Following the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan through U.S. diplomatic encouragement, the region-based justifications for maintaining Section 907 have been completely eliminated. The continued retention of Section 907, which has been unjust from the outset, is inconsistent both with the current situation in the region and with the nature of U.S. relations with the states of the region.

Unlike steps taken in previous years, the likelihood of adoption of the current bill is higher. It is hoped that this issue will not become a subject of political confrontation between Republicans and Democrats in the United States. 

The Daily Baku Editorial Team