US to work with allies, partners in coming days on international observer mission in Karabakh
‘We will work with our allies and partners in the coming days to flesh out exactly what that mission will look like,’ says State Department spokesman
United States Department of State
WASHINGTON
The US will work with allies and partners in the coming days on an international observer mission in Karabakh, a State Department spokesman said on Wednesday.
Matthew Miller told reporters that the US welcomes comments by the government of Azerbaijan “just a little while ago” that it “would welcome such an international monitoring mission.”
He said it was something that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had “directly pushed” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for.
“And we're glad to see his having agreed to it and we will work with our allies and partners in the coming days to flesh out exactly what that mission will look like,” he added.
“Ultimately, what we do want to see is a return to the negotiating table, where they can ultimately reach a dignified, lasting peace.”
On US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power and State Department Acting Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim’s visit to Azerbaijan on Wednesday, Miller said they “stressed a number of things,” which is the “same thing" that Blinken stressed in his conversation with Aliyev on Tuesday.
“Number one, we want to see the cease-fire maintained. Number two, we want to see humanitarian needs addressed. That means keeping the Lachin corridor open. It means ensuring that humanitarian supplies can come in, and it means an international monitoring mission to ensure that humanitarian needs are addressed,” he said.
On Russia’s role in Karabakh, Miller said: “I certainly do not think Russia has played a productive role here in the past week.”
Last week, in the wake of provocations by Armenian forces in Karabakh, Azerbaijan said it had launched "counterterrorism" activities in the region to uphold a 2020 trilateral peace agreement with Russia and Armenia. After 24 hours, a cease-fire was reached.
Tensions between the two nations, however, continue despite ongoing talks for a long-term peace deal.
Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan are set to meet on Oct. 5 in the Spanish city of Granada to discuss signing a peace treaty.
