Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests
Abstract:
The United States recognized the independence of all the former Soviet republics by the end of 1991, including the South Caucasus states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The United States has fostered these states ties with the West, including membership in the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE and NATOs Partnership for Peace PFP, in part to end the dependence of these states on Russia for trade and security. The United States pursued close ties with Armenia to encourage its democratization. Close ties with Georgia have evolved from U.S. contacts with Eduard Shevardnadze, Georgias president for the last decade. Growing U.S. private investment in Azerbaijans oil resources have strengthened U.S. interests there. The United States has been active in diplomatic efforts to end conflicts in the region, many of which remain unresolved. Faced with calls from Congress and elsewhere that he develop policies for assisting the Eurasian states of the former Soviet Union, then-President Bush proposed the Freedom Support Act in early 1992. Signed into law in 1992, P.L. 102-511 authorized funds for the Eurasian states for humanitarian needs, democratization, creation of market economies, trade, and U.S. government-to-government aid to Azerbaijan until its ceases blockades and other offensive use of force against Armenia. This provision was partly altered over the years to permit humanitarian, democratization, border security, and customs aid Trade and Development Agency aid OPIC insurance and Eximbank financing. The current Bush Administration appealed for a national security waiver of the prohibition on aid to Azerbaijan because of Azerbaijans assistance to the international coalition to combat terrorism. In Dec 2001, Congress approved foreign appropriations for FY2002 that granted the President authority to waive Sec. 907, renewable each year under certain conditions. President Bush exercised the waiver on Jan 25, 2002 and Jan 17, 2003.