The two former Soviet republics have been embroiled in two wars over the predominantly Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan and their relations have been characterized by tensions.
The US embassy said Thursday that Armenia and Azerbaijan are close to reaching an agreement and resolving their conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave.
The two former Soviet republics have been embroiled in two wars over the predominantly Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan and their relations have been characterized by tensions.
The American Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, however, assured that the two parties made “significant progress in addressing difficult issues” in the negotiations held this week in Arlington (Virginia, central-eastern USA) with the participation of his counterparts Zeihun Bairamov and Ararat Mirzoyan.
The parties “demonstrated a sincere commitment to normalizing their relations and ending the long-standing conflict between the two countries,” according to a press release issued by Mr. Blinken’s services.
Yerevan and Baku “agreed in principle on certain conditions” and now “better understand” the positions of the other side “on the outstanding issues”, he continued.
Mr Blinken suggested that his two counterparts should return to their capitals and convey that a deal was “feasible”.
The conflict flared up again last year, just two years after the most recent war between them.
An estimated 6,500 people were killed in the 2020 war. The two sides agreed to declare a truce in November of that year, mediated by Russia.
But the skirmishes continued, despite the agreement. And Azerbaijan has for months blocked the Lachin Corridor, Armenia’s only access to Nagorno-Karabakh.
As Russia seems absorbed in the war it launched in Ukraine 14 months ago and isolated on the international stage, the US and the European Union have taken on the role of mediators.
