Washington on Sunday announced $2 million for humanitarian demining operations in areas affected by the fall 2020 intensive fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, in a bit to "promote regional peace and cooperation" as the State Department put it, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
"Landmines and unexploded ordnance across the conflict zone continue to kill and maim civilians, block economic development, and impede the safe return of displaced communities," the Department said in a statement.
"Building on the $500,000 announced in November 2021, new U.S. funding will continue to strengthen the technical capacity of demining organizations to clear deadly landmines and unexploded ordnance. These efforts play a critical role bolstering human security and enabling displaced communities to return to their homes and rebuild their lives safely," reads the statement issued by the office of the department's spokesperson.
No further details about new assistance have been immediately available.
The move came as Ambassador Philip Reeker, senior advisor to the Secretary of State for Caucasus Negotiations arrived in the region last week to meet with government officials to discuss U.S. support for the diplomatic efforts between Baku and Yerevan towards a lasting peace.
Reeker has already met with Armneian PM Pashinyan and other officials "and underscored U.S. commitment to helping Azerbaijan and Armenia negotiate a comprehensive peaceful settlement," according to a U.S. Embassy tweet.
He will be in Baku early this week.
The U.S. is the world's largest single financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction, investing over $4.7 billion in more than 100 countries since 1993 to promote international peace and security by addressing the threats that landmines and unexploded ordnance pose to civilians, according to the State Department.
Alex Raufoglu
Washington D.C.
Politics
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