U.S. warns of unacceptability of escalation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border

YEREVAN, April 2. /ARKA/. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller commented on Azerbaijan’s narrative alleging that the Armenian side was trying to escalate, something that the EU monitoring mission didn’t confirm..

"The EU monitoring mission said yesterday (March 31) that the Armenia-Azerbaijan border was calm and quiet, with no unusual military troop or artillery movements, despite those statements,’ Miller told a press briefing on Monday.

He said the United States cautions and will continue to caution against escalating rhetoric or hostilities along the border.

‘We continue to encourage the creation of conditions for a just and dignified peace in the region, where the rights of all are respected. I have said from this podium many times that the only way to ensure a sustainable peace is at the negotiating table.," Miller said.

Miller reiterated that the U.S. will continue to make clear to both Armenia and Azerbaijan that escalation is in no one’s interest.

Miller also reiterated that the April 5 meeting of Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Presidrnt of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels is about Armenia’s reforms and its democracy, economy, and resilience.

‘The peace process is not the focus of this meeting; it’s a meeting between the U.S., EU, and Armenia to discuss economic diversification, humanitarian assistance, support for refugees, and supporting Armenia’s political reforms in areas such as democracy and the rule of law. It is not a regionally focused meeting,’ Miller said.-0-