The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Ned Price, commented on Monday (8 November), on the first anniversary of the trilateral declaration that ended the 44 day Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Price began by extending his condolences to the families of those killed during the hostilities. He also called for “the return of all remaining detainees, a full accounting of missing persons, the voluntary return of displaced persons to their homes, comprehensive humanitarian de-mining of conflict-affected areas, and access by international humanitarian organisations to those in need”, as well as an investigation into human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.
In his comments Ned price went on to affirm that the United States remained committed to the promotion of a secure, stable, prosperous and peaceful future for the South Caucasus region, adding that the US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Erika Olson, was currently in the region discussing bilateral relations and areas for regional cooperation with all three countries. The statement concluded by urging Armenia and Azerbaijan “to continue and intensify their engagement including under the auspices of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict”.