Wednesday, May 26 2021 19:16

ArmInfo.The United States urges Azerbaijan and Armenia to return to substantive high-level negotiations, without preconditions, under the auspices of the Minsk  Group Co-Chairs "as soon as possible."

The United States believes that the OSCE can contribute to  strengthening peace, stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus  region, U.S. charge d' affaires to the OSCE Permanent Council  Courtney Austrian, said in response to an appeal by Azerbaijani  Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.  As Turan reports, according to the  statement, Washington is "committed to helping the sides negotiate a  long-term political settlement to the conflict. "

Recent developments along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border "underscore  that only a comprehensive agreement that addresses all outstanding  issues can lead to  reconciliation and the normalization of relations  between Armenia and Azerbaijan and allow the people of both countries  to live together peacefully.  We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to  engage with the Co-Chairs as soon as possible to review their  proposals and decide jointly upon a structured agenda, reflecting the  priorities of the sides," reads the statement.

The U.S, calls on the sides to strengthen the ceasefire by expediting  the return of all PoWs and detainees; exchanging all data necessary  to conduct effective demining of conflict regions; and lifting  restrictions on access to Nagorno Karabakh for international  humanitarian organizations.

"We urge both sides to avoid fueling hatred through escalatory or  dehumanizing rhetoric and to investigate alleged human rights  violations or abuses, or violations of international humanitarian  law, and to hold accountable those found responsible.  These actions  are integral to stability, justice, and accountability."

Washington also encourages the sides to be transparent when  undertaking any military activities. "Military movements in <disputed  territories> are unnecessarily provocative.  We expect Azerbaijan to  pull back all forces and call on both sides to begin immediately  negotiations to demarcate their shared international borders." 

The U.S. believes the work of the Personal Representative of the  Chairperson-in-Office to monitor the situation adds valuable  transparency to this process and is of value to the entire OSCE  community, particularly Azerbaijan and Armenia. "We call on  Azerbaijan and Armenia to support his work, including by joining  consensus on the Chair's Unified Budget.  It is essential to achieve  consensus on the Unified Budget as soon as possible; we are already  late.  The OSCE's wide-ranging and important work is weakened without  an approved Unified Budget."

The need for a comprehensive and long-term political settlement to  the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is clear. "The engagement of the Minsk  Group Co-Chairs and the Personal Representative of the CiO, including  their full and unimpeded access throughout the region, will help to  defuse tension and prevent future violence," the statement reads.

To note, on May 12 and May 13, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces illegally  entered the territory of the Republic of Armenia in the direction of  Syunik and Gegharkunik, advanced 3.5 km and 2 km inland,  respectively, deployed their units and refuse to leave the territory.  In connection with the current situation, Armenia turned to the CSTO  to assist in finding a solution to this issue. The question still  remains unresolved. According to some estimates, more than 600  Azerbaijani military forces were stationed in the sovereign  territories of the Republic of Armenia. On May 23, the RA Ministry of  Defense reported that the Azerbaijani side had withdrawn a part of  its military from the territory of Armenia.  Yesterday, as a result  of the firing of the open armed forces of Azerbaijan on the territory  of Armenia, an Armenian contract soldier was killed.