US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stepped up diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The head of American diplomacy held talks with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in an attempt to reduce tensions.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that in telephone conversations with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Blinken discussed prospects for peace in the region.
They discussed with Pashinyan “U.S. support for efforts to achieve a lasting and honorable peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Miller said.
“The Secretary of State reaffirmed the United States’ continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia and outlined efforts to expand bilateral cooperation with Armenia to support its vision of a prosperous and democratic future,” he continued.
In his call with Azerbaijan’s president, Blinken welcomed Aliyev’s commitment to a lasting peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Miller said.
“The Secretary of State said he understands the suffering this protracted conflict has caused Azerbaijanis and Armenians and emphasized the benefits that peace will bring to everyone in the region,” Miller added.
“The Secretary of State spoke of our strong relationship with Azerbaijan and highlighted recent developments that have raised concerns about the relationship. He also spoke about opportunities to strengthen cooperation, especially within the peace process, and the importance of high-level interaction,” Miller said.
Meanwhile, a top US diplomat said Monday that the United States sees a “real opportunity” for peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which would benefit the entire region by creating a trade route.
“We see a real possibility of concluding peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are encouraged by the fact that the parties communicate with each other both directly and through intermediaries,” Undersecretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien told reporters.
“For example, if goods could be shipped from Central Asia through Azerbaijan and Armenia to Turkey, that would be a significant boost for all countries along that trade route,” O’Brien said. “And we would love the opportunity to be a part of it.”
