Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried tried to explain the State Department's decision to exempt Azerbaijan from Amendment 907 of the Freedom Act.

Speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Donfried assured that there was nothing automatic in this decision, nor in the State Department's subsequent actions.

For his part, committee chairman Bob Menendez, who is adamantly opposed to U.S. security assistance to Azerbaijan and the exemption from the amendment, said all of these facts seem pretty automatic.

"Is it humanly possible to say that Azerbaijan is not benefited itself from the assistance we have given it in a way that gives it a clear edge against Armenia as it relates to its military promise? There’s no way to say. You can’t sit here with a straight face and say that," he said.

Donfried said the State Department is looking at these issues 'with great care'.

"We have looked at this with great care, we have asked all engaged in these programs, whether they assess that there is an impact on negotiations between Armenian and Azerbaijan, whether there is an assessment, that US assistance in someway, undermines, or hampers efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and to assure that any assistance we provide cannot be used for offensive purposes against Armenia," she said.

However, Menendez, in turn, noted, that such remarks of Donfried makes him lose respect of her.

Donfried proceeded saying that helping Azerbaijan is in the national security interests of the United States.

Accordign to her, they are providing non-lethal border security equipment, which is yielding significant results, countering transnational threats from Iran and cutting off smuggling routes to the South Caucasus, Russia and Europe.

Karen Donfried added that she believes it will support border security. To which Menendez remarked that it will also allow Azerbaijan to violate Armenia's actual borders.

Meanwhile, during her speach, Donfried also noted that the US bilateral relations with Armenia have never been stronger.

According to her, they continue to look for ways to expand security relations, deepen cooperation on democratic and economic development.

The Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue is a flagship format for this partnership, she said noting that at the Washington Strategic Dialogue in May, the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Armenia on nuclear cooperation that can promote Armenia's energy independence and build stronger U.S.-Armenia cooperation in the nuclear energy area, including the provision of U.S. small modular reactors.

Donfried noted that she is excited about attending next year's Armenia-US Strategic Dialogue in Yerevan.