Armenia-Azerbaijan: U.S. Dismisses Moscow's Criticism Of EU Mission

Washington on Thursday dismissed Russian Foreign Ministry's accusations against the EU for sending a civilian mission to monitor Armenian-Azerbaijani border, and threw its support behind the mission, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We welcome efforts by partners, including the European Union, to build confidence in the region and to ensure an environment conducive to direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told a daily press briefing when responding to TURAN's questions.

The U.S. is committed to Armenia‑Azerbaijan peace negotiations, Patel said. "We continue to work closely with all our partners directly and with partners in the region as well when effective."

Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday the EU mission would "only fuel geopolitical confrontation in the region and exacerbate the current contradictions", accusing it of seeking to expand its influence in the region at Russia's expense.

Asked by TURAN whether Russia itself was acting in the region as a peacemaker or a troublemaker, Patel reminded that the U.S. was not involved in the November 20 ceasefire brokered by Russia between Armenia and Azerbaijan that resulted in the deployment of Russian peacekeepers, "so I just wouldn’t have anything additional to offer on that."

"But of course, as you know.... this is something that is deeply important to the Secretary [of State Antony Blinken], something he’s played close attention to and been deeply engaged in," Patel concluded.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.