Friday, January 12 2024 09:58

ArmInfo. The U.S. supports a peace agreement, a durable and dignified peace, between Azerbaijan  and Armenia, James O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, told an online briefing as he commented on the situation in the South Caucasus. 

"I'm going to talk briefly about both the South Caucasus and  transatlantic relations.  I'm going to give this a little less  detailed attention than the previous subjects just because based on  the incoming questions, it seemed there was more interest in those  others.

"So a couple words on the South Caucasus:  We support a peace  agreement, a durable and dignified peace, between Azerbaijan and  Armenia.  And on this, a couple points.  We're very encouraged that  they continue to have a robust agenda bilaterally and address the  issues that remain between them. There are more to work through, and  to the extent we can be helpful as they do, we're happy to support.   We have very full relationships with both countries that range across  economic, security, and political ties and we would like to see them  both benefit from a peace arrangement, and we'll be working to that  end in whatever way is most acceptable.

"I think this is another great opportunity for both governments to  deliver more for their people.  The reform agenda in Armenia is very  impressive.  Azerbaijan has elections coming up and I know can talk  about the role that it wants to play in regional economic  development, and I think a peace arrangement would only contribute to  those plans.  Now, we would like to be able to discuss all the issues  we have on the agenda with both countries, from our concerns about  some people in detention to bilateral issues, and we'll have a very  full agenda as we go forward.  But it's all under the umbrella of  encouraging a lasting, durable, dignified peace between the two  countries," he said.