US considers movements along Armenian-Azerbaijani border to be provocative, calls for return to initial positions

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, ARMENPRESS. The United States is very concerned by recent developments along the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the detention of six Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forcesand the recent death of two journalists in a land-mine incident, Acting Assistant Secretary for European and EurasianAffairs Philip T. Reeker told reporters in Azerbaijan.

“Too many lives have been lost in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we are concerned the situation at the border could escalate. We call on both sides to resolve theseincidentsurgently and peacefully.The United States considers any movements along the non-demarcated areas of the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan to be provocative and unnecessary.We reject the use of force to demarcate the border and call on both sides to return to their previous positionsandto cease military fortification of the non-demarcated border and emplacement of landmines”, Mr. Reeker said.

He said the United States urges the sides to return as soon as possible to substantive negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to achieve a long-term political settlement to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

“The United Stateswillcontinue towork with international humanitarian organizations, as well as our Allies and partners, to meet humanitarian needs in the region.But only through a peaceful settlement of the conflict can the people of the South Caucasus truly thrive and prosper”, the Acting Assistant Secretary said.

Editing by Aneta Harutyunyan