Saturday, October 29 2022 19:13

ArmInfo. The US State Department accused Moscow of spreading misinformation about Washington's efforts to normalize relations between Yerevan and Baku.

On October 28, during a briefing at the request of a journalist to  clarify whether there is any kind of Washington plan for the  settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, and if so, how does it  differ from the Russian one, and what are the US expectations from  the Sochi meeting of the leaders of the Russian Federation,  Azerbaijan and Armenia, State Department spokesman Ned Price, in  part, said:

"First, there continues to be misinformation and, probably more  accurately, disinformation emanating from certain corners, including  from Moscow, when it comes to our intentions vis-a-vis Armenia and  Azerbaijan. The United States is a partner to both of these  countries.  We have been a partner to both of these countries over  the course of decades.  There is no greater supporter than the United  States for the sovereignty and the independence of the countries of  the South Caucasus, including Armenia and Azerbaijan.  The  restoration of Armenia, Azerbaijan's independence in 1991 from the  Soviet Union - it was a seminal event that guaranteed each of these  countries the right to pursue their own foreign policy interests, to  pursue their own interests independent of Moscow or any other country  around the world.

So when we engage with Armenia and Azerbaijan, we are doing so with  one purpose in mind and one purpose only, and that is to put an end  to the violence and to put these countries on the path to a lasting  and comprehensive peace. We have encouraged and been clear with these  countries - Armenia and Azerbaijan - that they should meet in  whatever format is most useful to them. We do believe in the utility  of direct dialogue to resolving issues and to reaching that lasting  peace.

I'm not going to comment specifically on the efforts of the Russian  Federation except to say that, again, it is up to these two countries  to decide the approach they will take to these upcoming talks. We - I  think the world knows of Russia's history when it comes to its  neighbors and its neighborhood. Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia and  it's ongoing brutal invasion of Ukraine show that Moscow has little  respect for its neighbors' sovereignty, and it's hardly a reliable,  long-term partner. We think that is in stark contrast to the United  States. And again, our only intent is to help these countries achieve  for themselves an end to the violence and a lasting and a  comprehensive peace that the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan so  desperately want," he summed up.

It should be reminded that certain circles are spreading information  that there are two plans for the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani  relations - Western plan (Washington or Brussels) and Russian plan.   Thus, according to the same reports, the Washington plan proposes the  transfer of Artsakh to the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan and the  normalization of relations without presenting the so- called  transport corridor through the territory of Armenia. The Russian  plan, however, suggests postponing the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh for  the future, until better times, when confidence between Yerevan and  Baku is restored to some extent, however, it involves providing a  transport route through the territory of Armenia. This provision is  also included in paragraph 9 of the tripartite statement of November  9/10, 2020. In particular, it refers to the unblocking of  communications in the region, and the provision of transport links  between Azerbaijan and its exclave Nakhijevan through Armenian  territory. The security of the route according to paragraph 9 will be  controlled by Russian border guards.

Some circles, including the top leadership of Azerbaijan, are trying  to speculate on this issue, assuring that the transport route should  be of extraterritorial significance