US tries for greater support from Azerbaijan in Iraq war

But some consider Wilson's statement as an attempt to pressure Turkey
The US ambassador in Baku Ross Wilson is continuing his efforts to enlist further support from Azerbaijan in the run-up to possible war with Iraq.
It is in this context his statements, made last week should be understood. In a speech at the Baku Slavic University ambassador Wilson stated that the US is against Iraq border changes, implying that his government will not stand for the establishment of a new independant Kurdish state. He also warned against the threat posed to Azerbaijan by Iraqi anthrax tipped SCUD ballistic missiles.
"A Change in borders can not be expected under any circumstances. The US recognizes the territorial integrity of Iraq and this position will remain to the end".He said that if war broke out it would affect Azerbaijan as well. According to the ambassador, holding firmly to its aggressive stance against the whole world Iraq is also a threat to Azerbaijan.
"Iraq possesses an illegal stock of SCUD missiles with the range of 650 to 900 km, and strictly speaking, they are posing threat to Azerbaijan. A SCUD missile carrying 30 kilos of anthrax spores is capable of hitting up to 100,000 people."
"This weapon in the hands of Saddam [Hussein] also threatens whichever countries it can reach, including Azerbaijan," the ambassador said.
However, some pundits allege that the recent statements by ambassador Wilson are addressed not to Azerbaijan, but Turkey, which is known to be deeply concerned about the possibility of an independent Kurdish state on Iraqi soil.
The US ambassador's statement in Baku is evaluated as Washington's very diplomatic message to Turkey, whose parliament is expected to make a final decision today on whether or not to allow the deployment of US troops in Turkey, headed for Iraq.
Other Avenues?
Though, Wilson ruled out the possibility of using Azerbaijan's territory in hostilities against Iraq, if Turkey doesn't open its bases to US troops, he hinted at "other avenues" Washington works on in case of Ankara's refusal.
His refusal to comment on his secret talks with the Azeri government fuels talk of Azerbaijan being included in the list of alternatives.
In his speech the ambassador gave a short history of Iraq's behaviour during the last decade, noting that 16 UN resolutions had been ignored by Iraq. He spoke about weapons of mass destruction, which were discovered in Iraq by UN inspectors in 1990 and 1998. Ambassador Wilson said Saddam Hussein backed international terrorism and stood by Osama ben Laden and his al-Qaida organization. The ambassador stressed that the US administration was still avoiding war despite all that happened. He said the Azerbaijani government supported the US on the Iraq issue and Heydar Aliyev reaffirmed this during his last US trip. The rector of the university Kamal Abdulla made a speech to the event, comparing Iraq with Armenia.
Bush thanks Azerbaijan for anti-terrorism support
US President George W. Bush sent a letter on March 19 to thank to President Heydar Aliyev and the government of Azerbaijan for support in international anti-terrorism efforts. The letter says that the anti-terror coalition could not have succeeded in carrying out operations in Afghanistan had Azerbaijan not allowed use of its air space. The Azerbaijani Presidential Administration informed AssA-Irada that the letter further reads that the coalition will face huge difficulties if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein pursues his current policy.