After all, despite regular warnings from the Azerbaijani authorities about the incompatibility of the activities of USAID, a division of the State Department, with the stated goals, the organization continued to actively interfere in the political processes in Azerbaijan. Samantha Power and her Soros teammate Antony Blinken were very fond of the concept of “China’s final warning”, which allowed the United States to continue its brazen expansionist policy around the world.
Fortunately, however, the Azerbaijani authorities have repeatedly proved that warnings are always followed by real actions. The dissolution of the so-called “NKR”, fiercely supported by the United States, in September last year is yet another example of the firmness and determination of the Azerbaijani authorities in achieving their stated goals. But the White House does not want to accept the reality and new circumstances in the South Caucasus region dictated by Azerbaijan. They continue to bare their teeth at Baku.
You may recall that on November 21, 2023, Assistant to the President Hikmet Hajiyev officially announced the termination of USAID activities in Azerbaijan. And yet, we were surprised to see another statement by the head of the USAID office in Azerbaijan, Michael Nehrbass, dated December 31, 2023, in which he literally says that the organization will continue its activities in Azerbaijan.
Obviously, the expectation was that December 31 is a national holiday in Azerbaijan and hardly anyone would react to such a gross display of disrespect for the Azerbaijani authorities. Obviously, this action was coordinated with the State Department in advance. The State Department expected that the next few days would be non-working days in Azerbaijan, and after the holidays people would go about their business and no one would notice this maneuver. They hoped in vain.
It is time they got it through their heads that Azerbaijan is a serious state, and if Azerbaijan makes a statement, it is always well-thought-out and final. And given the latest provocation by Antony Blinken to put Azerbaijan on the list of countries requiring monitoring for possible violations of religious freedom, this statement by the now obviously defunct USAID office in Azerbaijan looks absolutely brazen and cavalier.
We hope that strong measures will be taken against USAID in Azerbaijan and this business will finally be closed, especially in the run-up to the early presidential elections.
Ramella Ibrahimkhalilova
Translated from Minval.az
