Azerbaijan-Armenia: Ministers' Discussions 'Already Constructive', State Department Says

Discussions between Azerbaijan and Armenian foreign ministers, which started outside Washington this morning, "have already been very constructive," Senior State Department officials said on Monday on a call, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

This is the first time the ministers are getting together over the course of a few days. Secretary Antony Blinken joined the ministers this morning both separately and together in a trilateral format.

The U.S.' commitment is "promoting a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region," a Senior State Department official said.

"We've long said that direct dialogue is key to resolving the issues to reach a lasting peace," the official added.

"We expect the discussion will continue through the week," the official said in response to TURAN's questions.

Washington "hopes and expects" that, as the week progresses, the representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan "will have forthright and frank discussion as they search for resolution," a Senior State Department Official Number Two said.

Asked by TURAN whether the U.S. is positioning itself as a host country which is limited to providing a platform for talks only, or if Washington has any preference or plan with regard to potential outcome, the official number two said, "Our goal is to provide a location where there can be bilateral discussions and real — the real hard work done together to make progress on lasting peace and we are very happy and are honored to be able to provide the space for Armenia and Azerbaijan to do that together"

Asked by TURAN about Russia's position against U.S.- lead dialogue, the Official Number One said it would be disappointing if the russians "view this in a negative way".

It's most important that the parties are able to contact each other wherever it takes place — either in Washington, Brussels or Moscow, the officials added.

"Our goal here is a lasting, durable, balanced and dignifying peace between the parties" the official number one concluded.

Alex Raufoglu