New U.S. Caucasus Negotiator To Make First Regional Visit Next Week

Washington D.C./03.03.23/Turan:  The newly appointed U.S. Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Louis Bono will be traveling to the region next week on what will be his first trip in this role, State Department's Spokesperson Ned Price told TURAN's Washington correspondent during Thursday's daily press briefing.

"This is the first of what we expect will be regular travel to all three countries of the South Caucasus," Price said. "Mr. Bono plans to meet with senior leaders to support the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process and our sustained commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added.

Secretary Antony Blinken on February 1 appointed career diplomat Bono as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations to replace Ambassador Philip Reeker, who recently retired from this position.

Bono will travel to Baku, to Yerevan and Tbilisi, in that order. According to Price, the trip will be an "opportunity for Mr. Bono to build on the meeting between Secretary Blinken, Armenia’s prime minister, and Azerbaijan’s president at the Munich Security Conference a couple of weeks ago now, in mid-February."

He went on to add, "As we said at the conclusion of that trilateral engagement [in Munich], we are encouraged by recent efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to engage productively on the peace process.  And Mr. Bono hopes to be in a position to build on that effort, and to see that progress continue."

In all three capitals, Bono will also emphasize that the United States is committed to promoting a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region, Price said.

Alex Raufoglu