Friday, July 21 2023 15:23

ArmInfo.Below is a response to the Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, H.E. Mr.  Ararat Mirzoyan as delivered by Charge d'Affaires Katherine Brucker to the Special Permanent Council, Vienna July 20, 2023. 

Foreign Minister Mirzoyan, welcome back to the Permanent Council at  this critical time for your country and your region.  The United  States welcomes the continued high-level meetings between Armenia and  Azerbaijan, including the most recent trilateral meeting in Brussels  on July 15 and the June 27-29 meeting of the foreign ministers in  Washington. 

To quote Secretary of State Blinken, "peace is achievable in the  South Caucasus."  Peace, dialogue, and the normalization of relations  between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the basis of mutual respect for  each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, eschewing force  or the threat of force - principles that are set forth in the  Helsinki Final Act - remain the only way forward.  We welcome your  active support towards this goal.  We continue to believe efforts to  reach a durable and dignified peace agreement, normalize relations,  delimit and demarcate borders, open transportation and communication  links, and ensure the rights and security of all residents in the  Nagorno-Karabakh region are in the best interest of all stakeholders. 

The United States recognizes ongoing tensions on the ground,  including Azerbaijan's recent closure of the Lachin corridor to all  but some limited humanitarian traffic which threatens to worsen the  humanitarian situation for the population of Nagorno-Karabakh.   Cross-border incidents also threaten the momentum you have already  worked hard to achieve.  We again urge the sides to refrain from  provocative, threatening, or hostile actions or rhetoric.  

The OSCE's comprehensive approach to security, anchored in our  principles and commitments, can enable the prosperity and security in  both Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of and following a comprehensive  peace agreement.   

We appreciate your assistance in helping to reach consensus on a  budget that will allow the OSCE to continue deploying its tools and  implementing projects for the good of participating States. 

Mr. Minister, the United States is committed to working with Armenia  and Azerbaijan, bilaterally, multilaterally, and through partners to  reach a durable and dignified peace.