Closure of Lachin Corridor sets back peace process - U.S. Department  of State 

ArmInfo.The closure of the Lachin Corridor has potentially severe humanitarian implications and sets back the peace process, Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy  Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, told a briefing.

"The closure of the Lachin Corridor has potentially severe  humanitarian implications and, quite candidly, sets back the peace  process. We're pleased that natural gas to Nagorno-Karabakh has been  restored.  Disruptions to energy infrastructure could precipitate a  humanitarian crisis, as I said. And we call on the restoration of  free movement through the corridor as soon as possible, and the way  forward to this is through negotiations," he said. 

As to whether Armenian and Azerbaijan are still interested in signing  a peace agreement by the end of the year, he said:

"I wouldn't assign a timeline to it, Alex, but this is something  that, as you - you've covered this issue quite closely. This is  something that you know that the Secretary has a great interest in  and has paid very close attention to, other senior leaders across the  department have as well, and it's something that we're going to  continue to remain deeply engaged on and get to cross the finish  line."