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Vedant Patel
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.
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- Photo sessions
- 11 February 2023 10:48
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- Politics
- 11 February 2023 11:11
Politics
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The Khatai district court of Baku today extended for another three months the arrest term of investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, arrested in the "Abzas Media case". His lawyer Rasul Jafarov informed Turan about it.
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American intelligence officials said on Friday that Russia is the pre-eminent and most active threat to influence the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, while Iran and China are also stepping up efforts, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.
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Azerbaijan is trying to diversify its economy and stop relying on oil, and is offering Israeli high-tech companies to relocate in exchange for generous tax breaks. This is reported by the Israeli publication Globes, citing its sources in companies that are considering relocation.
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