Armenian Advocacy Group Disappointed with President Joe Biden for Rejecting Sanctions Against Azerbaijan

The Biden administration has extended the suspension of the 907th amendment of the Freedom Support Act, allowing direct U.S. aid to Azerbaijan. In this regard, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) states that President Joe Biden, who previously called on former President Donald Trump to apply the Freedom Support Act against Azerbaijan, has decided to abandon those Congressional sanctions, thereby allowing his administration to assist the oil-rich and anti-Armenian rhetoric of the Aliyev regime.

“The recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the U.S. implies accountability, including not arming and not supporting Azerbaijan. Any action by President Biden that would greenlight the provision of American assistance to the Aliyev regime would contradict his clear stance during the campaign and, worse, the spirit of his recent recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

Moreover, during the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh last October, then-presidential candidate Biden stated, “The Trump administration must fully implement and not waive the requirements of the Freedom Support Act to stop the flow of military equipment to Azerbaijan.”

The 907th amendment of the Freedom Support Act was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1992 due to Azerbaijan's blockade of Armenia and only allows humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijan. According to this amendment, the U.S. government is prohibited from providing aid to the official authorities of Azerbaijan until that country makes “significant steps to lift all types of blockades and acts of aggression against the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh.” However, in 2002, Congress amended the 907th section, allowing the president to suspend the act and provide military support to Azerbaijan, which each U.S. president has been doing annually.