In an interview with RFE / RL, Philip Reeker, Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, who is in Armenia on a working visit, referred to the Azerbaijani Armed Forces’ incursion into the sovereign territory of Armenia since May 12 and the border tensions.
“We have made very clear our position in the statements made by Washington and the US Government. We would like the parties to withdraw to the positions of May 11, to be relocated to where they were on May 11, in order to be able to avoid such clashes. There are troops on the non-demarcated border, which are very close to each other, it is inevitable that there will be problems, clashes, wounded, deaths. We want to see the withdrawal of troops so that they are not so close to each other. Now there is no reason for such military moves. Then we would like to see the border, but it is more important to withdraw the troops so that the conflict can be completely resolved,” Reeker said.
The Acting US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs also referred to the public proposal of Armenia’s Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to deploy international observers on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.
“Talks about a certain peacekeeping mechanism or observers were part of the OSCE Minsk Group process, which has been discussed over the years. Maybe we should go back to the process and see how we can support the end of the conflict. The co-chairs can be creative by working with both sides,” he said.
Reeker highlighted his meeting with the Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Pashinyan, during which the Karabakh conflict, as well as the US-Armenia bilateral relations were discussed. He stressed that the United States views Armenia as a friendly country and expressed confidence that there is a very bright future here.
