US State Department on the Necessity of Withdrawing Troops from the Armenian-Azerbaijani Border

The spokesperson for the US State Department, Ned Price, addressed the South Caucasus during a press briefing.

A reporter inquired why US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and senior advisor on Caucasus negotiations, Philip Reeker, was not present at the meeting held yesterday at the White House involving US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of the Armenian National Security Council Armen Grigoryan, and Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the Azerbaijani President on foreign policy.

Price noted that Ambassador Reeker is actively engaging with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts: "He was certainly with us last week in New York with the Secretary of State. He participated in a trilateral meeting with Armenia and Azerbaijan. He has recently been in the South Caucasus, personally meeting with high-level officials there. Thus, he is deeply engaged in this matter," Price said.

Regarding the White House meeting that took place yesterday, the spokesperson stated: "As I understand, yesterday's meeting was one involving National Security Advisors. We are engaged; the Secretary has communicated with foreign minister counterparts. The Secretary has also collaborated at the leaders' level with both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Thus, we are involved at several levels, through multiple avenues, to reinforce the need to reduce tensions and withdraw troops."