Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.31
By Aygun Badalova - Trend:
Criticism of Azerbaijan by the United States, which has recently become more frequent, has a goal to exert political pressure on Baku, said Stanislav Pritchin, research fellow of the Center for Central Asian, Caucasian and Volga-Urals Studies of the Institute of Oriental Studies (Moscow).
Pritchin told Trend that the US uses the same tools for the dialogue with both its partners and opponents.
These tools include human rights, independence of the media, civil society, said the expert.
The character of claims imposed by the US on its opponents depends on the level of relations between the two countries, according to Pritchin.
"If a partner is important for the United States, the country is ready to turn a blind eye to some negative processes inside this country and the failure of compliance with standards, in their opinion," he said.
Pritchin said Azerbaijan pursues a quite balanced foreign policy.
"The country participates in the important western geopolitical projects for transportation of the Caspian Sea hydrocarbons to the world market, provides logistical support to the withdrawal of the coalition forces from Afghanistan," he said.
"Against the backdrop of such cooperation, the sharp criticism by the US raises questions," said Pritchin.
The expert believes that perhaps, Azerbaijan's balanced position on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis causes changes in the US attitude towards Azerbaijan.
He said Azerbaijan doesn't show activity in joining the sanctions' regime against Russia.
"Perhaps, this factor affects the negative perception of Azerbaijan in the US and a series of recent publications in the US press is related to this factor as well," said Pritchin.
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