Armenia

On June 18, Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports.

The interlocutors touched upon the Armenia-U.S. bilateral relations based on the shared values of democracy, protection of human rights, and the rule of law, as well as the prospects of expanding cooperation in mutual interest.

Minister Mirzoyan briefed his interlocutor on the current developments regarding the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the unblocking of regional economic and transport communications, and the commission's activities on delimitation and border security. Referring to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the need for a full resumption of peace negotiations aimed at the comprehensive settlement of the conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, highlighting the US efforts as a co-chair country in this regard. The Foreign Minister of Armenia presented “the humanitarian issues resulting from Azerbaijan's aggression against the [separatist] Nagorno-Karabakh unleashed in 2020, in particular, the immediate release and repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan and the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the territories fallen under the Azerbaijani control as a result of the war.”

On the same day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received Karen Donfried, the Armenian government press office reported.

The Prime Minister highlighted the continuous development and expansion of the Armenia-America relations, noting that Mrs. Donfried’s visit is another opportunity to discuss issues on the bilateral agenda. Nikol Pashinyan praised the US assistance in effectively advancing the Armenian government's democratic reforms, adding that the development of democracy is one of the government's key priorities.

According to Karen Donfried, the US administration also attaches importance to expanding and strengthening cooperation with Armenia in various areas. Therefore, support for developing Armenia's democratic institutions will be ongoing.

The interlocutors also referred to the processes in the South Caucasus region, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, and the Commission on Delimitation and Border Security activities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Prime Minister highlighted the strengthening of stability and peace in the region and stressed the need for an adequate response from the international community to provocative statements and actions undermining regional stability, peace, and stability. At the same time, Nikol Pashinyan stressed the critical role of the United States as a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, emphasizing the need for the comprehensive settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to take place within the framework of the Minsk Group Co-chairs' format.

Azerbaijan

On June 15, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, the press office of the Azerbaijani government reported.

The parties noted at the meeting that the agenda of bilateral relations was broad, covering energy cooperation, security in the region, the post-conflict period, the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and other issues. The President noted that Azerbaijan wants to see the South Caucasus as a region of cooperation.

Aliyev stressed the importance of the issues outlined in US President Joseph Biden's letters to Azerbaijan on the occasion of Azerbaijan's Independence Day and Baku Energy Week, as well as in his letter to Joseph Biden, for the development of bilateral relations.

Moreover, on June 16, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported. The sides exchanged views on various issues on the cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and the United States and the regional situation.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov briefed the US official on the current situation in the region, including the restoration and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the post-conflict phase, as well as the steps taken by the Azerbaijani government to normalize relations and ensure peace in the region.

Karen Donfried stressed that the United States supports efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Georgia

On June 17, Karen Donfried, the United States' Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, was in Tbilisi meeting with government officials, opposition leaders, and civil society organizations. Assistant Secretary Donfried attended and gave the opening comments at Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili’s Tbilisi Women's International Conference.

Assistant Secretary discussed the US government's readiness to assist Georgia in implementing recommended democratic reforms and continuing on its Euro-Atlantic path during her meeting with Prime Minister Garibashvili and Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili according to the US Embassy in Tbilisi. According to the statement, Donfried also met with Georgia's opposition leaders to discuss the country's difficulties and prospects and how the US can continue to assist Georgia's Euro-Atlantic goals.