Thursday, January 26 2023 11:51

ArmInfo. The USA works remarkably closely with its European partners when it comes to Nagorno-Karabakh, Ned Price, Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of  State, told a briefing on January 25. 

As to the differences between Washington and Baku in terms of the  Lachin corridor and the European mission in the region, with no U.S.  mission present, Mr Price said: 

"Of course, as you know, we work remarkably closely with our European  partners when it comes to Nagorno-Karabakh, when it comes to the  current challenge we face in the Lachin corridor, and when it comes  to tensions and conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan more  broadly. So we share our information with our European partners. The  same is true of them to us. And we believe it's important that we  continue to work closely together with our European partners, through  the OSCE as appropriate, directly with the parties if and when it's  effective. We've done all of those things and we'll continue to do  what we think is effective to bring about a lasting peace and a  diminution of the tensions."

As to whether he still considers the United States a co-chair of the  Minsk Group because there is no chairman in the U.S. side, Mr Price  said: 

"The Minsk Group has not been a functioning body for some time, but  we are prepared to work to resolve this conflict bilaterally,  multilaterally through the OSCE, with partners, with the parties  themselves."

Azerbaijan continues to disregard all international calls for lifting  the blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and the road to Nagorno-Karabakh has  remained closed for a month and a half 1.5 by now. Commenting on  this, Mr Price said: 

"The worsening humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh has been of  significant concern to us. It's been the topic of discussions, as you  alluded to, between Secretary Blinken and the leaders of both Armenia  and Azerbaijan in recent days. We've made the point that ongoing  obstruction of normal commercial and private travel along the Lachin  corridor is causing these very shortages of food, of fuel and  medicine, for the residents - the many residents who depend on this  corridor for those basic supplies. These periodic disruptions to  natural gas and other basic utilities further exacerbate the  worsening humanitarian situation.

"But above all, we believe that negotiations is the path forward. In  the near term, we've called for that restoration of free movement so  that the humanitarian needs of those who depend on this corridor for  lifesaving essentials and supplies can be met, and the United States  will continue to do what we can to bring the parties together, to  encourage this dialogue, and to encourage a full restoration of this  free movement through the corridor."