Eduard Jerejyan, up to now – the director of the politological centre after James Beyker, is about 70 years old. He has made an excellent diplomatic career. He has been the Ambassador of the USA in Damascus and Tel-Aviv, has occupied important positions in the Department of State. The State Department’s release about his nomination reads that “his experience and knowledge played an important role in the process of settlement of Arabian-Israeli conflict, in creation of an anti-Iraqi coalition after the invasion of Iraqi troops in Kuwait, in stopping the civil war in Lebanon.” He was the secretary of state in George Bush-father’s administration and his talent was highly appreciated by the President.
There is an interesting episode in the biography of Jerejyan. In 1990 the Secretary of State proposed his candidature for the post of the US Ambassador in Soviet Union. The idea was approved by the White House. The agrеment was already sent to Moscow. Neither the Foreign Minister of the USSR, Eduard Shevardnadze, nor the Soviet Special Services had any contradictions. However, a scandal rose in Azerbaijan. The Communist leadership of the Republic started a campaign aimed at discrediting the diplomat because of his Armenian surname. His candidature was withdrawn.
However, the White House had no intention to loose the experience of Jerenjyan. Despite the expectations of leaders of Baku, he was given the diplomatic mission on finding compromises for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He was sent to Yerevan and Baku to negotiate with the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan. During this mission he has been extremely impartial; however, he is still called an ”Armenian agent” in Baku.
The recent nomination of Jerejyan again caused the indignation of Baku. They do not like the fact that a man with Armenian origins will be coordinating the issues concerning the Islamic world to which Azerbaijan belongs. They have nothing against his person, but only against his surname. ”He is a gentleman and leaves a very good impression. But he is an Armenian. And Armenian remains Armenian forever,” former chief advisor of President Heydar Aliyev, Vafa Guluzade says.
13 years ago, when the issue of the new Ambassador of the USA to Moscow was being decided, the Azeris thought that they were really so influential that were able to decide issues concerning the appointments in the foreign affairs system of USA. This was an illusion. But this illusion gave birth to ambitions. The American administration should put Azerbaijan in its place. In Washington they can rule without advises from Baku.
