The Honorable Donald J. Trump

The Honorable Donald J. Trump

President of the United States

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Trump,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. I write to you on behalf of the Azerbaijan Society of America, an organization representing the interests of Azerbaijani Americans across the United States. As proud members of this community, we wish to express our gratitude for your leadership and your America First agenda, which has championed American interests globally.

We are reaching out to respectfully request your attention to an issue that has long affected U.S.-Azerbaijan relations: the 1992 adoption of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. This provision, which restricts U.S. humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijan, due to its blockade of Armenia during the first Karabakh war, a blockade that was a response to Armenia’s occupation of historical Azerbaijani territories.

in 1992, Section 907 was introduced to U.S. Congress, Senator John Kerry and Senator Joe Biden lobbied with the Armenian diaspora for this unjust legislation. There were never public deliberations nor an invitation for an Azerbaijani perspective. Azerbaijan was never treated equal as Armenia regarding compliance with the international law.

After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush, on the basis of an imminent threat to national security, turned to Congress and requested the opportunity to waive Section 907, Since then, U.S. Presidents have waived the restrictions annually, acknowledging the evolving nature of the relationship between the U.S. and Azerbaijan, as well as the shifting dynamics in the region. However, many in Azerbaijan and among Azerbaijani-Americans view Section 907 as an unfair measure, pointing to the historical context of the blockade and the broader regional tensions, and they have sought its repeal. Repealing Section 907 would be a positive step towards reinforcing the strong partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan, based on mutual respect and shared objectives.

We are confident repealing Section 907 altogether would align with your commitment to advancing American interests and fostering stronger alliances with countries that share our values. Azerbaijan's partnership with the U.S. is critical, and we believe that the repeal of Section 907 would be a meaningful step towards an even closer, more productive relationship.

We thank you for your consideration of this request and your continued leadership in promoting a foreign policy that benefits both the United States and its allies around the world.

Sincerely,

Azerbaijan Society of America