Azerbaijan-Armenia: U.S. Supports EU Process, Calls Potential Brussels Meeting 'Opportunity For Progress'

Washington D.C./24.02.23/Turan: The State Department on Thursday reiterated its support to the "EU process", a format of series of meetings between Azerbaijan and Armenia mediated by the President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"... I should note that there is an offer from President Michel of the EU to host the parties in Brussels. It’s an opportunity, should they accept it, to sit down to continue the progress that we’ve seen in recent weeks," Spokesperson Ned Price told a daily press briefing.

Asked by TURAN about the details of the forthcoming meeting, Price said the following: "My understanding is that the invitation and the opportunity has been extended to the parties. Ultimately, it’s going to have to be up to the parties themselves – our Armenian partners, our Azerbaijani partners – to speak to their potential participation in any such meeting."

The spokesperson dismissed Russia's criticism of the West's role in the negotiation process. "My only comment is that we hope to see the progress that we’ve seen in recent weeks continue, and we are ready to support the parties as they pursue talks towards a comprehensive solution to this challenge," he added.

As for the U.S.' role in the peace process, Price said, "we have made clear through our word and our deed that we are ready and able to help the parties – Armenia and Azerbaijan – advance progress on these very difficult questions in any way that we can."

Price was also asked about the Lachin corridor. According to him, Secretary Blinken raised the issue in his engagement with the sides in Munich last weekend: "He underscored the need for free and open commercial and private transit through the Lachin corridor. He also called on the parties to open other transportation routes"

The spokesperson added: "We think it in the first instance is incumbent on the parties themselves to resolve these impediments to the free flow of goods, including humanitarian assistance to the people who need it most in this corridor, and we’re going to focus our diplomacy on attempting to bring – to help bring that about."

Alex Raufoglu