Published November 28,2023
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate telephone calls on Monday with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to debate efforts to achieve a peace settlement between the 2 nations.
According to a readout of the telephone name between Blinken and Aliyev, the Secretary welcomed Aliyev’s dedication to “conclude a durable and dignified peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
“The Secretary recognized the suffering that this long-standing conflict has caused Azerbaijanis and Armenians alike and underscored the benefits that peace would bring to everyone in the region,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated in an announcement.
“The Secretary discussed our enduring relations with Azerbaijan, noted recent points of concern in the relationship and also spoke about opportunities to strengthen cooperation, especially around the peace process, and the importance of high-level engagement,” Miller added.
Blinken held a separate telephone name with Pashinyan to debate U.S. help for efforts to achieve a “durable and dignified” peace settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“The Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ ongoing support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and outlined efforts to increase bilateral cooperation with Armenia as we work to support its vision for a prosperous and democratic future,” stated Miller in an announcement.
Relations between the 2 former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian army occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally acknowledged as a part of Azerbaijan, and 7 adjoining areas.
Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan throughout a struggle within the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace settlement and in addition opened the door to normalization.
Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh after an “anti-terrorism operation” in September, after which separatist forces within the area surrendered.
In an announcement on Nov. 21, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry known as on Armenia to renew negotiations and “to avoid new unnecessary delays” within the peace course of.
Delegations from Azerbaijan and Armenia are anticipated to fulfill on Nov. 30 to debate border delimitation points.
Source: www.anews.com.tr