In the wake of a ceasefire violation resulting in casualties in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the United States took place.
On June 27, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan respectively, held a meeting in Arlington, USA. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan shared details of the meeting on Twitter. United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken engaged in separate bilateral meetings with both foreign ministers before proceeding to the trilateral discussions.
Expressing optimism about the peace talks, Blinken emphasized the significance of dialogue in establishing lasting peace, stating on his Twitter page, “This week, we are holding peace talks with Foreign Ministers Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan at the National Training Center for Foreign Affairs. Dialogue is the key to lasting peace.”
In response to the recent ceasefire violation, the United States has called upon both Azerbaijan and Armenia to exercise restraint and refrain from provocations to safeguard the ongoing peace process. Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, expressed deep concern over the loss of lives in Nagorno-Karabakh. Deputy press secretary Vedant Patel stressed the importance of avoiding military action and achieving a sustainable and dignified peace through negotiations.
Patel acknowledged the constructive nature of the ongoing negotiations in Washington, led by the United States. He stated that discussions were continuing as scheduled and refrained from providing further comments on the tensions on the ground, leaving it for the Secretary of State and other officials involved in the process to address.
Furthermore, the national security advisor to President Biden, Jake Sullivan, met with foreign ministers Jeyhun Bayramov and Ararat Mirzoyan at the White House on June 28. In a Twitter statement, Sullivan emphasized the need for Armenia and Azerbaijan to make progress toward peace while avoiding provocations and reducing tensions to foster trust.
Negotiations between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia will carry on in Washington until June 29. Both countries have accused each other of violating the ceasefire regime, with the breach occurring in an area of Azerbaijan where Russian peacekeepers are temporarily stationed.
