U.S. Congress ‘ decision to fund Karabakh separatists might have negative impact on Azerbaijan-U.S. ties

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister and Rector of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy Hafiz Pashayev says the U.S. Congress decision to allocate $8 million in aid to separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh is negative step in terms of development of the Azerbaijan-U.S. relations.

“This move by the Congress may have a negative impact on the Azerbaijan-U.S. relations,” he told reporters on Jan 11.

“But we hope this will not happen.”

The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate approved a bill on general appropriations for the 2010 fiscal year, under which Nagorno-Karabakh separatists will receive $8 million in aid.

Azerbaijani Former Ambassador to the U.S Pashayev considers the Congress’s intervention in U.S. foreign policy as a move contrary to Washington’s interests.

According to him, the Congress took such actions due to the influence of Armenian lobby in the United States.

The intervention of Congress in the U.S. foreign policy is evident not only in regard to Azerbaijan, but also for other countries, he said citing Middle East as another example.

/Trend News/