The spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, Mr. Terry Davidson countered the criticism, Ali Hasanov, a top political advisor to President Ilham Aliyev, leveled against the U.S. activity as a mediator in the Nagorno Karabakh talks. He said that as one of the three countries co-chairing the Minsk Group, the United States balanced its efforts, understanding that both Azerbaijan and Armenia must accept the principles of the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“The United States has long been supporting efforts aimed at the achievement of a long-term, peaceful and fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict,” Mr. Davidson said.

Ali Hasanov said earlier this week that the government is not happy with U.S. efforts to broker a peace agreement ending the long-standing conflict in Nagorno Karabakh. Hasanov also praised Ankara for linking the implementation of the Turkish-Armenian normalization agreements with a Karabakh settlement.

“The position of Turkey, which is a strategic ally of Azerbaijan, fully satisfies Baku,” he said. “We are not happy with the activity of the United States in the process of settling the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said, adding that the “U.S. negotiators are seen in his country as influenced by what he called the Armenian lobby.”