U.S stands ready to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan to normalize relations - State Department

YEREVAN, July 27, /ARKA/. The United States and its like-minded partners stand ready to assist Armenia and Azerbaijan in whichever way, whichever format is most effective, to normalize relations, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a press briefing on Tuesday.

Asked how the U.S. sees the conflict resolution, taking into account the constant criticism of the OSCE Minsk Group by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the one hand, and the readout of the State Department, which refers to the Minsk Group as a possible way out, on the other hand, Price said: “We have been a co-chair of the Minsk Group since 1994, but as we’ve demonstrated, we’re also willing to engage bilaterally with the countries to help Armenia and Azerbaijan find that long-term, comprehensive peace,’ Ned Price said.

Asked also whether U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's renewed offer of assistance and facilitation to both Yerevan and Baku means that previous offers had been rejected Price said the U.S. has been able to achieve s a degree of progress.

‘And through continued engagements and diplomatic conversations with Armenian and Azerbaijani partners in this case, we think we can continue that momentum. So the Secretary obviously has had a number of calls with the Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership, but there are a number of people, senior officials in this building who have engaged with their counterparts at all levels to continue this momentum and to continue to offer our assistance in the issues as we seek a long-term, comprehensive peace,’ Price said.

In a phone call with Azerbaijani president Aliyev on July 25 Secretary Blinken urged Azerbaijani leader to release all remaining Armenian detainees.

Earlier on Monday Blinken discussed with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan normalization of Armenia's relations with Azerbaijan and Turkey and Nagorno-Karabakh. - 0-