Pashinyan, Blinken discuss Karabakh, Ukraine over the phone

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke over the phone on Monday, March 14 and discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

According to a press release from the Department of State, Blinken stressed the U.S. commitment to promoting a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for the South Caucasus.

"Noting recent reports of escalation between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, the Secretary called for the sides to show restraint and intensify diplomatic engagement to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues. The Secretary urged continued democratic reforms in Armenia," the American side said.

A statement released by Pashinyan office said that the two "stressed the need for stability and peace in the region, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which will contribute to the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan."

The two also weighed in on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Blinken highlighting the U.S. commitment, alongside other partners, to "continue to hold Moscow and its supporters, including the Lukashenka regime in Belarus, accountable for the Kremlin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine."