Armenia, Azerbaijan diplomats meet after lethal border clashes

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted the international ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York on Monday within the first direct talks between the 2 sides since lethal border clashes earlier this month.

Blinken’s trilateral assembly with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov got here on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

What was mentioned on the assembly?

“Blinken conveyed condolences for the lives lost and emphasized the need to prevent further hostilities, underscoring the importance of returning to the peace process,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price mentioned in an announcement.

“They discussed next steps, and the secretary encouraged the sides to meet again before the end of the month,” Price added.

In Monday’s assembly, Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan referred to as for Azerbaijani armed forces to withdraw from Armenian territory and for “international mechanisms” to be launched “to prevent further escalations,” an announcement from the Armenian Foreign Ministry mentioned.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Bayramov mentioned earlier than the assembly that his nation is “satisfied with the level of relations” with the US and added that his direct dialogue with Mirzoyan was common.

“We are always open for meetings,” he mentioned.

What is the battle about?

For many years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in pressure over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2020, a six-week conflict left hundreds lifeless and noticed Azerbaijan make vital territorial positive factors.

Intense artillery shelling broke out earlier this month, killing greater than 170 amongst troops on either side and rekindling tensions. Each nation blamed the opposite for the preliminary provocation. Last week, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a ceasefire.

Fighting between the 2 former Soviet states additionally threatens to drag Turkey, a key supporter of Azerbaijan, and Russia — Armenia’s safety guarantor — right into a broader battle at a time when geopolitical tensions are already excessive.

Ahead of the talks, Blinken had mentioned that Washington was “encouraged by the fact that the fighting has ceased and there have not been any additional military actions over the last few days.”

On Sunday, US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Armenia and decried “illegal and deadly attacks by Azerbaijan on Armenian territory.”