The United States has pledged to continue making efforts to help Armenia and Azerbaijan resolve all outstanding issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The remarks were made by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of European and Eurasian Affairs Dereck Hogan and National Security Council Senior Director for Europe Amanda Sloat, who met with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs on September 27. Stephane Visconti of France, Andrew Schofer of the United States, and Igor Khovaev of Russia were joined by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of State, co-chairs discussed their successful facilitation of the first joint meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers since November 2020, held last week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. They underscored only a comprehensive resolution that addresses all outstanding issues can normalize relations between the two countries and allow the people of the region to live together peacefully.

Hogan and Sloat, meanwhile, welcomed the co-chairs’ efforts and the resolve of Armenia and Azerbaijan to reengage in the peace process through direct dialogue aimed at contributing to security, stability, and prosperity in the region. They conveyed the commitment of the United States to continue working with its fellow co-chair countries to help Armenia and Azerbaijan resolve all outstanding issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including with regard to detainees, missing persons, and humanitarian demining efforts.

September 27 marked the first anniversary of the beginning of the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in fall 2020.