Your trusted source

Since the beginning of this year serious tension is observed in Azerbaijan-US relations. On the one hand, the US makes tough demands on democracy, on the other hand, Azerbaijan’s government evolves even more active anti-American campaign.

Political expert Rahim Hajiyev told Azadlig: “Apparently, Washington has lost all hopes on solving issues through dialogue with Azerbaijan.”

According to him, the main mission of the US State Secretary Hillary Clinton’s visit to Baku was to eliminate the ongoing problems in Azerbaijan-US relations and the desire to make influence on the processes in Azerbaijan.

“The US Administration demands from Azerbaijan to implement democratic reforms and undertake urgent steps to establish strong basis for democracy in the country. Clinton urged Aliyev in Baku to release the illegally jailed Eynulla Fatullayev and the young bloggers. However, the new verdict on Fatullayev, just after Hillary Clinton left Baku, showed that Azerbaijan is not intent to make any concessions, even if it could make the tension even deeper,” he said.

According to Hajiyev, Clinton’s visit was a chance for Azerbaijan to improve ties with the US.

“However, Azerbaijani ledership once again proved it is not ready to make concessions over democracy and the freedom of speech. There is no doubt, Azerbaijan-US relations will grow even tenser,” the expert said.

Azadlig says Aliyev has appeared in the “black list” of the US, recalling David Kramer’s remarks: “I think sentencing of Eynulla Fatullayev so soon after Secretary Clinton was there was a clear signal by president Aliyev that he essentially doesn’t care what the Western community thinks,” Kramer said, adding that “sentencing of Fatullayev and bloggers situation continues to be a blot on Azerbaijan’s reputation. Council of Europe and the US have raised this issue. Yet, we don’t seem to see any positive change in Azerbaijan.”

The most remarkable thing here is that the West has increased condemnations againt Azerbaijan and the number of publications over it. Ilham Aliyev’s relations with the West and the US, particularly, have appeared on agenda. The US declares that Azerbaijan disregards them.

Apparently, the US is intent to put an end to any kind of cooperation with Baku,” Azadlig sums up.