State Department reiterates that Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement remains within reach, despite Russian threats

YEREVAN, August 8. /ARKA/. US Department of State spokesman Mathew Miller was asked at a press briefing on Monday to comment on Russian officials threatening Armenia and Azerbaijan against signing any peace agreement.

On August 4, Denis Gonchar, head of a Russian Foreign Ministry department overseeing relations with CIS counties, claimed that Armenia and Azerbaijan should expect further conflict if they rush into a peace agreement. 

'I don’t want to speak with respect to Russia when it comes to Armenia and Azerbaijan.  I want to speak with respect to those two countries who are directly related – who are direct parties in this dispute.  We have been engaged directly with those countries; Special Envoy Bono traveled to the region last week and engaged directly with them.  And we believe, despite any comments from other countries who are not a party to this matter, that an agreement remains within reach, and we will continue to work with them to pursue it,' said Miller.

Miller was also asked to comment on Turkey's role in the process, referring to the telephone call between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 5, during which developments in the South Caucasus and the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia were discussed.

"I don't want to talk about it in detail - this is a private diplomatic conversation. But we do believe that Turkey can play a productive role in this as it plays in other issues," Miller said. -0-