Jeyhun Bayramov Hold Telephone Conversation with US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs

On August 9, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov had a telephone conversation with Yuri Kim, Acting Assistant to the US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.

During the telephone conversation, the agenda of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States, the issues arising from the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the situation in the region were discussed.

"Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that Armenia deliberately aggravated the situation in the region and hindered the peace process by spreading claims such as 'blockade' and 'humanitarian crisis' in the region under various pretexts. At the same time, he emphasized that Armenia's ongoing claims against Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, its refusal to withdraw the Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan's territories fully, and its interference in the internal affairs of our country are unacceptable," the report added.

"He reminded that Armenia continues its provocations against the border crossing point of Lachin, which was created by Azerbaijan in its sovereign territories; despite this, our country created conditions for the passage of Armenian residents in both directions. Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that despite Azerbaijan's proposal of Aghdam-Khankendi [Stepanakert in Armenian] and other alternative roads for the transportation of goods, the fact that the Armenian side creates obstacles on the roads for the transportation of goods and opposes the transportation of goods by these roads is a political manipulation after the claims about 'blockade' and 'humanitarian situation,'" the information said.

Ararat Mirzoyan Holds Telephone Conversation with US Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs

On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Yuri Kim, the Press Office of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported.

"Minister Mirzoyan briefed on the escalating situation in Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor, which has already lasted for about eight months and which may turn into a real humanitarian catastrophe in front of the eyes of the international community. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized that since June 15, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been under a total blockade, facing an acute shortage of food, medicine, and other essential supplies," the report added.

"The minister added that the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh threatens the efforts of Armenia and the international community aimed at establishing stable peace in the region. He underscored the need to make the best use of existing mechanisms and to immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor in accordance with the Orders of the International Court of Justice," it said.

Both sides stressed the need to resolve the situation and agreed to continue contacts in that direction. Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the imperative of joint efforts of the international community in the current situation.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets with US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Officials

On August 9, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan received US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Director of Staff Damian Murphy and Policy Director Sarah Arkin, who were in Armenia on the instructions of Committee Chairman Robert Menendez.

"During the meeting, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is intensifying day by day as a result of the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, was discussed. The need to immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin Corridor was emphasized by the decisions of the International Court of Justice of February 22 and July 6," the report added.

"Paruyr Hovhannisyan emphasized the need for international partners to take clear steps to prevent ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh," it said.

"Reference was made to the steps taken by the Armenian side to establish security, stability, and peace in the region. The parties also discussed issues related to the development of Armenian-American relations," the information concluded.

Ilham Aliyev Receives New Russian Ambassador

On August 10, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev accepted the credentials of Mikhail Yevdokimov, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani President reported.

They praised the successful development of bilateral friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Russia in various areas and the implementation of active mutual engagement in political, economic, trade, energy, transportation, and humanitarian fields, as well as in regional security issues. The sides noted that the two countries enjoy productive cooperation both at the bilateral level and within international organizations, hailed the contribution of the contacts between the heads of state to the expansion of bilateral ties, and expressed confidence that the bilateral relations would continue to develop successfully.

They spoke about the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the current state of the negotiation process for a peace treaty. The sides also stressed the importance of projects implemented in energy and transport spheres, including the North-South Transport Corridor, for regional development.