State Department: United States does not recognize results of presidential elections in Nagorno-Karabakh

YEREVAN, September 12. /ARKA/. The United States does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent and sovereign state, and therefore it does not recognize the results of those so-called presidential elections that were announced over the last few days, US Department of State Spokesman Mathew Miller told a September 11 press briefing.

He added that the United States is deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, saying the U.S. repeats its call, as the Secretary did in a statement over the weekend, for the immediate and simultaneous opening of the Lachin and Aghdam routes to allow passage of desperately needed humanitarian supplies to the men and women and children in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

'We urge the leaders, as the Secretary did in his calls, against taking any actions that raise tensions or distract from this goal. And I will say, in addition, we have consistently stressed this need for open – to open routes in Nagorno-Karabakh and for a dialogue between the parties.  While it is important that Nagorno-Karabakh have credible representatives for this process, as So I will say that the United States will continue to strongly support efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve outstanding issues through direct dialogue, and that’s why Secretary Blinken and Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Lou Bono have been consistently engaged, and we will stay consistently engaged on this question,' Miller said.

On September 9, Nagorno-Karabakh s parliament elected 45-year-old Samvel Shahramanyan as president His predecessor Arayik Harutyunyan resigned on September 1, 2023.-0-