ArmInfo. The US State Department issued a statement on the one-year anniversary of the signing of a trilateral statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia on the complete cessation of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Thus, the statement of the State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, in particular, reads:
"This week, the United States and the international community recognize the one-year anniversary of the ceasefire declaration that ended 44 days of intense fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the South Caucasus. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured during the hostilities last year. We call for the return of all remaining detainees, a full accounting of missing persons, the voluntary return of displaced persons to their homes, comprehensive humanitarian de-mining of conflict-affected areas, and access by international humanitarian organizations to those in need. We also call for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.
The United States remains committed to promoting a secure, stable, prosperous, and peaceful future for the South Caucasus region. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Erika Olson is currently in the region to discuss bilateral issues with all three countries and to explore opportunities for regional cooperation. We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue and intensify their engagement including under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
The situation in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict escalated on September 27, 2020, when the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem unleashed aggression against Artsakh. On November 9 of the same year, with the mediation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a trilateral ceasefire statement was signed between the leaders of the Russian Federation, Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to the document, the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides had to stop at their occupied positions, a number of regions came under Baku's control, and Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the line of contact and the Lachin corridor and in Nagorno- Karabakh. After the deployment of peacekeepers, the situation in Karabakh stabilized, and tens of thousands of residents who left their homes during the hostilities returned. However, Azerbaijan continues its encroachments on the territory of Armenia and Artsakh, and at the same time terrorizing the population of the border territories.