The U.S. Department of State assesses the recent discussions with Armenian and Turkish top officials as “very meaningful.”

“We continue to try to find the right formula working with both countries. And clearly, we’re also supporting the Minsk process regarding Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh. We are – the process has stalled from last fall when the countries signed the protocols on normalization. We want to see Turkey and Armenia ratify those protocols, normalize relations, open borders. That has significant benefits for both countries. And we continue to work with both to see if we can find the right formula, the right timing to see ratification and the benefits that come with ratification,” said Mr. Phillip Crowley, State Department spokesman.

“We continue to work to see how we can – I mean, there are things that both countries have committed to do. There are difficult processes working with their respective parliaments. We have the same experience in this country where the Executive Branch can make a commitment that has to work with Congress in terms of implementing that or getting ratification of that. We know this is a difficult process. We know it involves emotion on both sides, risk on both sides, and we will continue to work constructively with Armenia and Turkey to try to see this process through,” he said.