Azerbaijan in the News

Azerbaijan is finally being mentioned in the news... unfortunately the news may or may not be what most people would want to hear before heading over there for two years.

According to ABC news, Russian President Vladimir Putin made the proposal Thursday to President Bush to use Azerbaijan as an alternative site for U.S. plans to deploy missile-defense elements in Eastern European countries. Originally proposed by the US to be housed in the Czech Republic or Poland, the missile system would be used to defend the US in the event of an attack from Iran or North Korea. Russia is uncomfortable with the idea of a US missile defence system in Poland, as they contend that putting the system in Eastern Europe would mean it could be used against Russia's missiles, thereby undermining the balance of power in Europe. Putin proposed using an existing Russian radar station in North Eastern Azerbaijan as an alternative.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, said Friday that Azerbaijan is "ready to consider proposed joint U.S.-Russian use of a radar facility in the country as part of a missile defense system." Stating that the proposal "can only bring more stability into the region because it can lead to more predictable actions in the region."

"At this time, Azerbaijan's position, which is supported by the United States and Russia, is that it's necessary to start consultations in a two- or three-sided format. I can say that Azerbaijan is ready for such consultations," the foreign minister said at a briefing.

Despite the open dialogue regarding the housing of the system in Azerbaijan, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated "It's a bit early to judge if an Azeri radar could be the answer to the threat... it's a bit close to the rogue states we are discussing."

(News courtesy of ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3257312)

So what does this mean for me? At the moment nothing. It does not change my status or desire to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. At this time, the US, Russia, and Azerbaijan are in a discussion phase. We will just have to wait and see. I believe that now, more than ever, the Peace Corps presence in Azerbaijan will be needed. I can only hope to show a sincere desire to improve relations between America and Azerbaijan.