ACA Opposes Legislative Effort to Repeal Section 907
On December 9, U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced H.R. 6534, a bill aimed at repealing Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act and lifting long-standing U.S. restrictions on direct government assistance to Azerbaijan. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and, if passed, would mark a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Azerbaijan, particularly at a time when Armenians remain hostages in Azerbaijan, Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh faces erasure, and regional stability is uncertain.
Section 907 was enacted in 1992 in response to Azerbaijan’s blockade of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and its use of military force. The provision restricts direct U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan unless the U.S. president certifies that Baku is actively working to end hostilities, lift blockades, and pursue peaceful negotiations with Armenia. For more than 30 years, Section 907 has served as one of the few mechanisms in U.S. policy holding Azerbaijan accountable, conditioning aid on the country’s actions rather than geopolitical considerations.
The significance of Section 907 has become even more pronounced in recent years. Following the 2020 war and Azerbaijan’s military assault on Artsakh in 2023, over 120,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced from their ancestral homeland. Numerous international reports have documented the detention of Armenian civilians and prisoners of war, as well as the widespread destruction of Armenian Christian and cultural heritage sites. Repealing Section 907 under these circumstances would reward Azerbaijani aggression and ethnic cleansing, rather than promoting peace and stability in the region.
The Armenian Council of America strongly opposes any attempt to repeal or weaken Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. This provision remains a critical safeguard against further Azerbaijani military aggression and human rights violations. Repealing it would undermine U.S. law designed to protect Armenia and Artsakh and send a dangerous message that violence and displacement can occur without consequence. As peace efforts remain unresolved, Section 907 is still essential for ensuring U.S. accountability and supporting regional stability.
