U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken facilitated a Nov. 7 meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to build on discussion from their meetings during the UN General Assembly in New York.
This built upon discussions that previously took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York held in September, as previously reported by State Newswire. The meeting in September had been the first direct talks between the two countries since fighting began this year. The Nov. 7 meeting took place at Blair House in Washington, D.C.
“The United States is committed to the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Direct dialogue is the best way to a truly durable peace, and we are very pleased to support that,” Blinken said, according to a State Department news release. “The United States strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial independence of both Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the 1991 restoration of independence was a vitally important moment in guaranteeing the rights of both countries, rights that we strongly support.”
Blinken commented on the costs associated with the 30-plus year conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, including human lives lost and deep scars, the release reported.
“But what we are seeing now are real steps, and courageous steps, by both countries to put the past behind and to work toward a durable peace," Blinken added, according to the release. "Both countries are working to that end and to, ultimately, a brighter future for the South Caucasus – a future of peace, countries at peace, countries working together for a better future.”
The latest conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is the largest outbreak of fighting between them in more than two years, AP News reported Sept. 19. Reports of shelling for two days in the Nagorno-Karabakh region left 200 soldiers dead, with losses on both sides.
According to AP News, both countries have placed blame on the other for starting the conflict. Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in a decades-long conflict over control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2020, a six-week war between the countries resulted in Azerbaijan reclaiming large areas of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent territories held by Armenian forces. The price of the conflict was the death of more than 6,700 people.
