U.S. says dialogue is key as new round of Armenia-Azerbaijan talks begin

PanARMENIAN.Net - Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has said that the United States supports Armenia and Azerbaijan working together toward a “durable and dignified” agreement.

“Dialogue is key to lasting peace,” he said on Twitter Tuesday, June 27 – the first day of the latest round of talks between Armenian Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center in Washington, DC.

Also Tuesday, Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the United States was pleased to host Mirzoyan and Bayramov to facilitate negotiations this week as they continue to pursue a peaceful future for the South Caucasus region.

“Secretary Blinken was honored to welcome the foreign ministers at the opening meetings this morning at the George P. Schultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center. The Secretary met both individually with each minister, and held a meeting with the two of them together, and emphasized in each meeting that direct dialogue is the key to resolving issues and reaching a durable and dignified peace,” Miller said.

“The United States is encouraged by recent efforts of Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage productively on the peace process, and we will continue to assist them any way that we can to build on that momentum. Today was the first day of meetings that will continue through Thursday, and we will have further updates as the week goes on.”