U.S. Rejects Zakharova's Comments, Says Russian Aggression Undermined Minsk Group Format

Washington on Friday rejected Russian characterization of the Western role in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

"Promoting peace in the South Caucasus remains an enduring priority for us,"  State Department's principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in response to TURAN's questions during a Friday phone briefing.

Patel's comments came in reaction to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's early comments in which she blamed Washington and Brussels for seeking to undermine the implementation of the trilateral agreements between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia as well as aiming to change the security system in the region.

Patel, in his turn, reminded that promoting peace in the South Caucasus "remains an enduring priority" for the Biden administration, and for Secretary Blinken, in particular, "as evidenced by his direct outreach and engagement on these issues directly with leaders in Armenia and Azerbaijan."

"And this is something that we are going to continue to stay focused on," he said.

As for Russia, Patel said, "... the fact is that Russian aggression and unilateralism has undermined a number of lines of efforts, undermined a number of prospects for productive work in the Minsk Group format."

Washington "remains firmly committed" to engagement on any and all avenues for the promotion of peace, whether that be bilaterally, whether that be through mechanisms within the EU, whether that be via the OSCE, Patel concluded.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.