Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia.

The spoke over the phone on Sunday, April 28, with Blinken commending Yerevan and Baku’s announcement that they have agreed to use the 1991 Alma Ata declaration as the basis for border delimitation.

The U.S. diplomat emphasized its importance to the two sides concluding a durable and dignified peace.

“The Secretary urged President Aliyev to keep up the momentum with his Armenian counterpart, reiterating U.S. willingness to support those efforts,” the press service of the Department of State said.

Blinken also called for the full, expeditious release of activist Gubad Ibadoglu and all those unjustly detained in Azerbaijan.