The End of Recent Clashes is Just the First Step Toward Peaceful Negotiation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Pompeo

The United States welcomes the cessation of active hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In a statement for the press, U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo remarked that since the onset of the recent military actions, the United States had called for an end to the violence and condemned the military escalation that resulted in significant casualties, including among civilians.

“Once again, we express our condolences to the families of the deceased and injured and urge all parties to respect their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law,” Pompeo stated.

“The end of the recent clashes is just the first step toward a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We urge the parties to cooperate as quickly as possible with the co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, aiming for a lasting and sustainable political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the principles of the Helsinki Final Act regarding non-use or threat of force, territorial integrity, self-determination of peoples, and equal rights.”

As a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States continues to be fully engaged in these efforts.

In parallel with our diplomatic engagement, the United States is providing $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organizations and NGOs to help people affected by the recent clashes. With this funding, the total amount of U.S. humanitarian assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan since the fiscal year 2019 has reached over $10 million, which includes nearly $3.9 million for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, aiding vulnerable migrants, internally displaced persons, and their host communities.

The new assistance provided by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development will support local efforts to provide food, medical care, shelter, and other emergency assistance to individuals affected by the conflict. U.S. government humanitarian experts continue to assess the impact of this crisis. We appreciate the contribution of our partners in the international community and call on other governments to join these efforts with new and growing support.”