US directly responsible for Armenian revanchism, Azerbaijani ambassador says

The more an anti-Azerbaijani elite in the United States, France, and others nations aligns their misinformation efforts with attempts to militarize Armenia, the more revanchism takes roots among its establishment, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Khazar Ibrahim told Newsweek.

"Today, there are regular military exercises, combat training, and heavy weapons deliveries from Western forces to Armenia, and I am seeing ever-more belligerent statements from Armenian diplomats, who are happily supported particularly by likeminded officials in the United States," he said.

In addition, he lamented the fact that Western media widely spreads disinformation about Azerbaijan, thereby damaging the peace process.

Ibrahim reminded that Azerbaijan aims to achieve a fair and sustainable peace in the region. He added that it was Azerbaijan that initiated the peace process with Armenia, which is actively continuing and progress has already been made.

" For the first time since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the two countries have supported each other on some international issues and advanced border delimitation talks," he said.

"Still, despite all of this progress, the mainstream media and policymakers allow misinformation to be purveyed. This misinformation, claims that Azerbaijan is the instigator of atrocities in the fight against Armenia, is widespread and has damaged the peace process," the diplomat noted.

For those spreading these views, Muslim lives do not matter, domestic political dividends are a priority and controlling the narrative trumps free speech, Ibrahim noted.

He added that a careful look at the titles, headlines, and contents of the media is enough to come to this conclusion.

"Much is filled with a 'clash of civilizations' agenda, highlighting the idea that this is a fight of Muslims against Christians," he said.

"The truth is very different. In Azerbaijan's cities and the countryside, all religions and ethnic groups happily live side by side. The same cannot be said of Azerbaijan's fiercest critics. Their cities are filled with scenes of Islamophobia, antisemitism and hate," he said.

When political and ideological circles promote this "clash" with a nod from policymakers and the strategic silence of diplomats, it helps to make a mess of the whole world, such as what we are seeing now in the Middle East.

In conclusion, the diplomat noted that the United States has a unique responsibility to promote a "rules-based international order."

"When international law breaks down, it harms not just the South Caucasus, but everyone everywhere on the globe," he said.