US restricts government personnel travel to Azerbaijani-Armenian border

Washington has restricted US government personnel travel to the Azerbaijani-Armenian border area for security reasons, amid increased tensions along the Line of Contact, TURAN's US correspondent was informed by the diplomatic sources.

The US Embassies in Baku and Yerevan also sent a message to the American citizens calling them to avoid travel to this border area.  "Consular services are no longer available to US citizens in that area," the embassies noted.

In its term, the State Department on Monday reinstated an urge towards Baku and Yerevan to take immediate action to reduce tensions along the lines of contact and respect the ceasefire.

"There can be no military solution to this conflict..." Jen Psaki, DoS Spokesperson said during a daily Press Briefing, repeating the Department's last week statement on the issue. "Retaliation and further violence will only make it more difficult to bring about a peaceful settlement," she added.

Asked whether Washington was backing Russian arranged upcoming meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents in Sochi on Aug. 8-9, Psaki said she wasn't aware of formally planned meeting, "or it certainly wasn’t announced." 

"I can check and see if there was a meeting that was planned or down the road in planning," she added immediately. "It may have just been a rumor out there."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also on Monday voiced his opposition to the renewed fighting over the conflict region, urging Baku and Yerevan to respect a ceasefire agreement.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ban called on all the parties to "refrain from further violence and commit themselves to immediate de-escalation and continuing dialogue in the pursuit of a rapid and peaceful political solution"..

A.Raufoglu

Washington, DC