Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker have stressed the role of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in easing tensions in the South Caucasus and resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully.

The two met in Yerevan on Thursday, June 10, with Pashinyan highlighting the need for further developing the Armenian-American cooperation. Reeker, in turn, reaffirmed the U.S. side’s readiness to develop partnership with Armenia.

According to a press release from Pashinyan' office, Reeker hailed the Armenian government’s drive for developing democratic institutions in the country and described the 2018 parliamentary elections "exemplary in all respects". He reiterated the American side’s willingness to continue assisting Armenia in completing the democratic reforms.

The interlocutors next referred to the regional situation in the South Caucasus. In this context, they highlighted the role played by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the need to take steps to ease the tensions.

Weighing in on the Artsakh (Karabakh) issue, the Acting Prime Minister emphasized that the Armenian side abides by the position that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved as part of the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship and on the basis of the principles proposed by the Co-Chairs. Pashinyan called his interlocutor’s attention to the need for soonest possible repatriation of prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees and the immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.