Conversation with Ilham Aliyev

On July 12, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan.

During the phone conversation, Antony Blinken expressed his country's continued support for the discussions on a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He stressed the importance of a creative and compromise-based approach to the negotiation process. Emphasizing the significance of crossing through the Lachin border customs checkpoint, he emphasized the importance of maintaining positive dynamics in the negotiations to achieve sustainable peace.

President Ilham Aliyev pointed out Azerbaijan's commitment to the peace agenda aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia and underlined that his country, as an initiator of the peace treaty between the two countries, supports its signing.

The head of state lauded Antony Blinken's and the US government's continued support for advancing the peace agenda between the two countries. He said the next high-level meeting with the Armenian side will be held in the coming days.

"President Ilham Aliyev highlighted that despite the regular organization of humanitarian cargo, individual crossings, and medical evacuation through the Lachin border-customs checkpoint, the armed provocation was committed by Armenia on June 15, and cases of smuggling were detected in humanitarian shipments carried out under the accompaniment of the International Committee of the Red Cross, adding that investigations are being conducted in this regard," the report added.

Conversation with Nikol Pashinyan

On July 11, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with Antony Blinken.

"The interlocutors referred to the situation in the region, the ongoing negotiations on the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the necessary steps to ensure the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the need for a Baku-Stepanakert dialogue with international involvement," the report added.

"Prime Minister Pashinyan referred to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted from Azerbaijan's illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor and the steps necessary for overcoming it," it said.

The interlocutors emphasized the need for consistent efforts to ensure regional stability and peace. Prime Minister Pashinyan reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Armenia to the peace agenda.

Blinken comments

On July 12, Blinken said on his Twitter page, "Yesterday, I spoke by phone with the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, to once again declare my strong support for the ongoing efforts to ensure peace with Azerbaijan. Direct dialogue and diplomacy are the only paths to lasting peace in the South Caucasus, and I am committed to helping facilitate that."

Later, Blinken wrote on his Twitter page about his phone conversation with President Aliyev. "Today, I spoke by phone with the President of Azerbaijan, Aliyev, to emphasize once again the strong support of the United States in the ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The United States is committed to helping facilitate these discussions," Blinken said.