Since taking office, Libby has repeatedly addressed journalists’ questions about why U.S. diplomats refuse to visit Karabakh, stating that he does not want to participate in anyone’s “show” and will decide when the “conditions are ripe” for a visit.
However, Yerevan is in shock today. Armenian Telegram channels, which have actively promoted Libby’s refusal to visit Karabakh, are now outraged and criticizing the ambassador. “How did this happen?” they ask.
A year ago, the U.S. still aspired to mediate between Baku and Yerevan, but today it has effectively lost this ability. It’s no secret that there were high hopes for American mediation. However, Washington openly sided with Yerevan, trying to pressure Baku. Yet, a crisis instigated by the Biden administration was resolved, thanks to an initiative from Washington itself. In retrospect, this can indeed be called an “American comedy,” to put it mildly, and a disgrace to the American administration.
Such a powerful country as the USA ultimately capitulated to Baku. Moreover, this situation has deprived the States of the main thing—they have completely lost their credibility among the Azerbaijani public. If it was once said that Azerbaijani society was pro-Western and anti-Russian, today it is pro-Azerbaijani. There is no particular sympathy for Moscow or Washington. To somewhat rectify the situation, in the USA, Mark Libby was given the go-ahead to visit Karabakh, which he and the previous ambassador had so diligently avoided, causing justifiable outrage on the Azerbaijani side.
So, in whose “show” did Libby participate today? Why have American diplomats long used the issue of visiting liberated Karabakh as either a tool to pressure Baku or an indirect disagreement with Azerbaijan’s victory in the war?
Notably, last week Mr. Libby met with “pro-Western” public representatives and criticized the situation with press freedom in our country. All this is happening against the backdrop of unrest in Georgia, where the States are openly calling on the population to protest and organize a revolution. What is the Biden administration planning in Azerbaijan? Meetings with the “pro-Western camp,” and now an unexpected visit to Shusha. Are the U.S. moving into an active phase of their work to regain lost positions here? It is difficult to understand.
We will wait for an answer to this question. In any case, judging by Libby’s actions, one thing can be said with certainty: Mr. Ambassador took part in the “show” of the USA. We will soon learn about the consequences.
Maksud Salimov
