Pompeo urges Armenia, Azerbaijan to "resume negotiations"July 15, 2020 - 19:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo commented on the recent escalation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border during a press briefing on Wednesday, July 15, urging the sides to "resume sustinent negotiations". Pompeo discussed the United States' concerns about recent violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan international border and offered condolences to the families of victims. "The United States is deeply concerned about the recent deadly violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan international border," the Secretary thed reporters. "We urge the sides to de-escalate immediately and re-establish a meaningful dialogue and a ceasefire, to resume subsistent negotiations with the Minsk Group as co-chairs." On July 12, Azerbaijan launched two failed infiltration attempts on the border with Armenia whose troops immediately identified the saboteurs and thwarted them back to their positions. Since the next morning, the Azerbaijani military has been firing on the Armenian positions, also using large caliber grenade launchers and combat drones to target civilian homes in several border settlements. Four servicemen of the Armenian army have been killed, 20 others have been wounded, while Azerbaijan has reported 11 deaths. Top stories The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. London’s Armenian community has been left feeling “under attack” after the city’s Genocide monument was vandalised. The United States believes there should be an international mission to provide transparency. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |