Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests Page: 2 of 23
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Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political
Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests
Summary
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 in part to end the dependence of these states on Russia for trade, security, and
other relations. The United States has pursued close ties with Armenia to encourage
its democratization and because of concerns by Armenian-Americans and others over
its fate. Close ties with Georgia have evolved from U.S. contacts with its pro-
Western leadership. The Bush Administration supports U.S. private investment in
Azerbaijan's energy sector as a means of increasing the diversity of world energy
suppliers and to encourage building multiple energy pipelines to world markets. The
United States has been active in diplomatic efforts to end conflicts in the region,
many of which remain unresolved.
The FREEDOM Support Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-511) provides authorization for
assistance to the Eurasian states for humanitarian needs, democratization, creation
of market economies, trade and investment, and other purposes. Section 907 of the
act prohibits most U.S. government-to-government aid to Azerbaijan until its ceases
blockades and other offensive use of force against Armenia. This provision has been
partly altered over the years to permit humanitarian aid and democratization aid,
border security and customs support to promote nonproliferation, Trade and
Development Agency aid, Overseas Private Investment Corporation insurance,
Eximbank financing, and Foreign Commercial Service activities.
In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United
States, the Administration appealed for a national security waiver of the prohibition
on aid to Azerbaijan, in consideration of Azerbaijan's assistance to the international
coalition to combat terrorism. In December 2001, Congress approved foreign
appropriations for FY2002 (P.L. 107-115) that granted the President authority to
waive Section 907, renewable each calendar year under certain conditions. President
Bush exercised the waiver most recently in February 2006. As part of the U.S.Global War on Terrorism, the U.S. military in May 2002 began providing security
equipment and training to help Georgia combat terrorist groups in its Pankisi Gorge
area and elsewhere in the country. Azerbaijani and Georgian troops participate in
stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Armenian personnel serve in Iraq.
Foreign Operations Appropriations for FY2006 was signed into law November
14, 2005 (H.R. 3057; P.L. 109-102). It calls for $75 million in FREEDOM Support
Act aid to Armenia ($20 million above the request), $35 million for Azerbaijan, and
$67 million for Georgia. It calls for $12 million in Foreign Military Financing for
Georgia and $5 million each for Armenia and Azerbaijan. It also supports $750,000
in International Military Education and Training aid each for Armenia and
Azerbaijan. The conferees (H.Rept. 109-265) agree that at least $3 million be
provided to address ongoing humanitarian needs in Nagorno-Karabakh. This CRS
report replaces CRS Issue Brief IB95024, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia:
Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests, by Jim Nichol.
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Nichol, Jim. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests, report, June 2, 2006; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10336/m1/2/?q=%22foreign%20aid%22: accessed May 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.