ArmInfo.The situation around the Lachin Corridor is an obstacle to the advancement of the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Karen Donfried, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said in an interview with the Armenian service of "Voice of America".
Washington is actively making efforts for the corridor to be reopened. Ms Donfried emphasizes that the blockade of the Lachin Corridor was the primary topic in U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent telephone conversations with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The Secretary of State called for the immediate reopening of the corridor and stressed the importance of unhindered commercial and private traffic. The USA is concerned about the situation of the local Armenian population in Nagorno Karabakh and will continue pressure over this situation, she said.
Ms Donfried also mentioned other obstacles in the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiation process.
There is a decades-long painful history in the relations between the two countries, with both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides having understandable concerns. A lack of trust between these two countries can be noted, she said.
She notes that the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiation process, which is one of the issues on the agenda of US Secretary of State Blinken, includes discussions on many complex issues, including the peace agreement, border demarcation, reopening of transport links between the countries. The US supports direct dialogue between the parties and emphasizes its necessity, because this is the only way of achieving the settlement of the above-mentioned complex issues, Ms Donfried believes.
The U.S. believes both Armenia and Azerbaijan are deeply committed to this process. And Washington is ready to help in every way, realizing that the difficult decisions that must be made to achieve peace must be made in Yerevan and Baku, the U.S. official said.
According to the high-ranking diplomat, the problems between Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot have a military solution, and the only way is a diplomatic settlement through the peace process. "We would not like to see any escalation of the situation", Ms Donfried said.
"We do not see a military solution to the situation between the two countries, and we will continue to remain engaged diplomatically, as we have been doing, first to make sure there is no escalation, and second to help encourage positive progress," she said.
The Deputy Secretary of State expresses gratitude to the EU for deploying a civilian mission to Armenia to monitor Armenia's border with Azerbaijan. "It is an initiative that we fully support," she said.
According to Ms Donfried, the activity of Moscow and Tehran in the South Caucasus is arousing concern. Russian peacekeepers deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh do not play a constructive role, and Iran is actively trying to enhance its political, power and economic role in the South Caucasus.
According to Donfried, these fears have intensified over the past year in connection with the Russian war against Ukraine.
Donfried emphasized that the regional activity of Russia and Iran should give even greater relevance to the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process.