U.S. offers help with Armenia-Azerbaijan border effortsMay 25, 2022 - 13:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States has offered assistance with Armenia and Azerbaijan's border delimitation and demarcation efforts. Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said Tuesday, May 24 that the matter was discussed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. "The Secretary and the Prime Minister discussed the positive momentum toward peace in the South Caucasus. Secretary Blinken offered the United States’ assistance with border delimitation and demarcation efforts and encouraged progress to develop regional transportation and communication links," Price said in a statement. "He highlighted the importance of continued bilateral dialogue to solve challenges in the South Caucasus and reaffirmed U.S. support for EU-brokered conversations between [Azerbaijani] President [Ilham] Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan." Secretary Blinken also reaffirmed U.S. readiness to help by engaging bilaterally and with likeminded partners, including through its role as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, to help Armenia and Azerbaijan find a long-term comprehensive peace. The Secretary then underscored the importance of normalization in relations between Armenia and Turkey in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity for the wider region. President of the European Council Charles Michel, Pashinyan and Aliyev held their third meeting since December in Brussels on May 22 and focused on the situation in the South Caucasus and the development of EU relations with both countries as well as the broader region. According to a statement from the EU, Michel told the two leaders that it was necessary that the rights and security of the ethnic Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) be addressed. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |