Day 9
Azerbaijan
The US attempted to host meetings between Azerbaijan and Armenia to negotiate a pathway towards peace and agreement on land. However, Azerbaijan refused to attend, saying that the US was biased towards Armenia and that the US was not welcome in Azerbaijan for the same reason. Pray for God’s wisdom to prevail. Pray that the hand of war and strife will be held back, allowing for a peaceful solution between the two nations without loss of life. Pray that those who would seek conflict would be silenced. As we welcome the Prince of Peace into the world this Christmas season, welcome the Prince of Peace into Azerbaijan and Armenia (The Bible, Isaiah 9:6).
Source: Azerbaijan snubs Armenia meeting in Washington, accusing US of bias (Reuters)
Azerbaijan has been riding the line for years between democracy and fiefdom. Its New Azerbaijan Party is accused of authoritarianism and bribery. It imprisons corruption-busting journalists and human rights advocates. Friction with neighboring Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh disputed territory turned into an outright war from September to November 2020. Though a peace deal was negotiated, relations between the two nations have continued to be tense. Oil export revenues have aided the Azeri population, elevating living standards and increasing military strength. Yet, poverty and corruption plague the nation. The Church experiences ongoing restrictions, especially with raids on church meetings and homes of church leaders, and detentions of Christians continue.
