Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised US help for the peace course of between Armenia and Azerbaijan in separate conversations with the 2 international locations’ leaders over the weekend, whereas calling for the opening of a street resulting in disputed territory.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are engaged in a decades-long standoff, and have fought two wars over the mountainous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh which have left tens of 1000’s lifeless.
During Blinken’s discuss with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev Sunday, he “expressed the United States’ deep concern that Azerbaijan’s establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor undermines efforts to establish confidence in the peace process,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated in an announcement.
Azerbaijan established a checkpoint on the entry of the Lachin hall final weekend, which Armenia denounced as a breach of the most recent ceasefire between the 2 arch-foes.
The space is the one land hyperlink between Armenia and the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.
Blinken “emphasized the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor to commercial and private vehicles as soon as possible,” the assertion added.
He conveyed the United States’ help for the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace course of to Aliyev, Miller stated, and “shared his belief that peace was possible.”
The day earlier than, Blinken additionally spoke with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Miller stated in a separate assertion Saturday.
The secretary of state additionally talked about “the importance of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace discussions” and “pledged continued US support,” in response to Miller.
“Secretary Blinken reiterated that direct dialogue and diplomacy are the only path to a durable” resolution.
Moscow brokered a ceasefire between Yerevan and Baku after the most recent bout of preventing in 2020 and posted peacekeepers alongside the Lachin hall.
With Russia slowed down in Ukraine and unwilling to pressure ties with Azerbaijan’s key ally Turkey, the United States and European Union have sought to steer a thaw in ties.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
