Joint Business Letter to Senate on Trade Restrictions With Azerbaijan

October 17, 2001

Dear Senator: 

In the next few days, you will be asked to vote on legislation offered by Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), S. 1521, regarding the resumption of economic assistance to Azerbaijan, a consistent friend of the U.S. in the Central Asian and Caspian region.  This legislation has the strong support of the Bush Administration, because it is needed to bolster our anti-terrorism efforts and to ensure the safety of U.S. troops engaged in Afghanistan.

We are writing on behalf of the USA*Engage, a coalition of American companies and organizations that have an active interest in the region and that fully support the U.S. campaign against terrorism.  For the past several years, this coalition has supported a full repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.  This statutory provision prohibits aid to Azerbaijan, which, since the fall of the Soviet Union, has been a key Muslim ally of the U.S. in the region.  Immediately following the events of September 11^th, the Government of Azerbaijan offered its unconditional and tangible support of the U.S. in the international campaign against terrorism.

While Azerbaijan has offered over-flight rights, intelligence sharing, and the use of its military bases and hospitals, Section 907 constrains the U.S. ability to accept their help. The statute limits intelligence upgrades for military over-flights and prohibits assistance for military security and intelligence purposes, as well as assistance to upgrade Azerbaijan’s military bases and hospitals. Military training assistance to manage over-flights is prohibited, as is force protection.

Therefore, because of the statutory limitations imposed by Section 907, the President cannot fully utilize Azerbaijan’s offer of support. It is now critical to the national security interests of the U.S. to support Senator Brownback’s legislation, which would enable the President to waive Section 907, thereby providing him maximum flexibility in his campaign against terrorism.

To accomplish the goals of this difficult campaign, the U.S. will need all available tools – economic, diplomatic, military and law enforcement initiatives.  We therefore urge you to vote for Senator Brownback’s legislation to grant the President the authority he seeks to protect the lives of our fighting men and women and to allow him the option of using the resources the government of Azerbaijan has generously offered.

American Petroleum Institute
California Council for International Trade
Coalition for Employment Through Exports
European-American Business Council
International Association of Drilling Contractors
National Association of Manufacturers
National Foreign Trade Council
USA*Engage
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Council for International Business