Waiver of the unjust section 907 marks another milestone in Azerbaijan-U.S. strategic partnership - COMMENTARY

President Ilham Aliyev continues to astonish the global community with consecutive diplomatic successes and by signing new historic milestones, reaffirming his stature as a leader of the modern era. During his recent visit to the United States, President Aliyev’s meeting in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, where significant documents were signed, along with warm and friendly discussions with President Trump and the symbolic presentation of the White House key to Azerbaijan’s President, filled every Azerbaijani with pride. President Trump himself noted that he rarely presents the symbolic White House key. A particularly significant moment during this visit was the signing of an executive order by President Trump to suspend the enforcement of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, a matter of great importance to Azerbaijan, Zarifa Guliyeva, Chair of the “Modern Development and Family” Public Union and a member of the Veterans’ Council of the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) told 1news.media.

The prominent socio-political figure stated that the outcomes of this meeting reminded her of President Aliyev’s resolute words: “There has never been an initiative we undertook that did not become reality. We have done everything we said we would. Not a single promise has gone unfulfilled!” Discussing one of the historic events of the visit—the waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act by the U.S. President—Guliyeva emphasized that this decision reflects the respect and esteem for Azerbaijan and its leader. “Moreover, this puts an end to the biased policies pursued against our country for years by pro-Armenian congressmen. Justice, though delayed, has prevailed. The shift in the attitude of a powerful state like the U.S. toward Azerbaijan and the elevation of bilateral cooperation to a new level are direct results of President Ilham Aliyev’s well-thought-out political strategy. The agreements reached between Azerbaijan and the U.S. during this visit, as well as the progress in normalizing Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, are of historic significance and further enhance our country’s global standing. This visit also holds great importance for the region,” she added.

The chair of the Public Union described President Trump’s decision to sign an order suspending the enforcement of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, which restricted direct U.S. aid to Azerbaijan, as a historic event. She noted that in 1992, the U.S. Congress adopted Section 907, banning direct state aid to Azerbaijan based on the unfounded claim that Baku was imposing a “blockade” on Armenia, amid Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan.

Guliyeva highlighted the biased and unjust nature of this amendment, pointing out that during that period, Azerbaijani territories were under occupation by Armenian armed forces, and the Azerbaijani people were subjected to ethnic cleansing and genocide. Despite Armenia’s disregard for international law and its acts of inhumanity, the U.S. Congress unfairly targeted Azerbaijan with this decision. “In reality, this decision stemmed from pro-Armenian congressmen’s inability to accept Azerbaijan’s independence and their intent to hinder our country’s development as a sovereign state. Despite challenges and obstacles, Azerbaijan never wavered from its stance. Especially since the second half of 1993, under the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan confidently advanced on its path to independence, expanded cooperation with prestigious international organizations, and became an active member of these institutions,” she said.

The YAP veteran noted that Azerbaijan’s rapid development and integration into the international community have been highly appreciated, leading several U.S. presidents to waive the Section 907. She recalled that in 2001, after the U.S. launched anti-terrorism operations in Afghanistan, President George W. Bush, recognizing Azerbaijan’s significant role and support, signed an order to on the waiver of the section. However, the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, influenced by the Armenian lobby, reinstated Section 907, attempting to exert political pressure on Azerbaijan. This decision negatively impacted bilateral relations. “Now, all of that is in the past,” she remarked.

“The memorandum signed by U.S. President Donald Trump to waive the Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act concerning Azerbaijan has been published in the ‘Federal Register,’ the official journal of the U.S. government. The waiver of the unjust Section 907 is yet another testament to the strategic partnership established between Azerbaijan and the U.S. It signals a new chapter in the relations between our two countries,” Guliyeva concluded.