U.S. Reacts To Deadly Clash in Karabakh, Urges For Dialogue

Washington D.C./07.03.23/Turan:  The State Department on Monday reacted to the latest deadly clash in Karabakh, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We’re following reports of a shooting incident on March 5th inside Nagorno-Karabakh which killed five individuals, we understand," Spokesperson Ned Price told a daily press briefing in response to TURAN's questions. " We offer our condolences to the families of those injured and killed," Price said.

The spokesperson went on to add:  "There can be no military solution to conflict, and the use of force to resolve disputes is never acceptable. The only way to sustain peace is at the negotiating table and to – and the use of force undermines negotiations."

Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry said on Monday that two servicemen were killed in an exchange of fire after its troops stopped a convoy it suspected of carrying weapons from the region's main town to outlying areas by using an unauthorised road.

Armenia's Foreign Ministry said  the convoy had been carrying "documents and a service pistol" adding that three from Karabakh were killed.

The incident came as Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Lou Bono arrived in Baku on Monday in his first visit to the region.

Price told the briefing that Mr. Bono was in the region to "stress the only way forward is through direct dialogue and diplomacy."

"And as the Secretary has emphasized, the United States is committed to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace negotiations," he added.

Asked by TURAN about the timing of the latest incident and its implications for the peace process, Price said the following: "... The clearest implication for us is the imperative of continued direct dialogue and discussion between the parties’ themselves. This is imperative on the part of the parties."

He added: "We have played the role of partner to both countries, facilitating on a trilateral basis engagement between the foreign ministers and between the – at the leader level as well.  We are prepared – whether bilaterally, trilaterally, multilaterally – to continue to be a partner in furtherance of efforts to secure a lasting peace."

TURAN's correspondent also asked Price about Russia's latest efforts to push its own mediation and that why did Washington think the Western mediation was the way to go.

"This is a question for the parties themselves," Price said in response, adding, "we are not going to put ourselves against any other offer of mediation, and in fact we’re not a mediator. We are a partner to the two countries."

He went on to emphasize: "I think we have demonstrated both in word and in deed the nature of our relationship with the two countries, our ability to bring the two countries together, our willingness and readiness to help bring about additional progress in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We are not doing this as a means by which to compete with Moscow.  We are doing this in an effort to bring about the settlement and resolution of a longstanding dispute between these two countries, and unfortunately a dispute that has consistently taken lives, just as it did on March 5th. "

Price concluded: "Our interest here is in peace and security.  It’s in the interests of the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan as well."

Alex Raufoglu