State Department: US is partner of Azerbaijan and Armenia, not mediator

The US is not a mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but a partner, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said while commenting on a journalist’s question about Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement about the importance of Moscow’s mediating role during his visit to Azerbaijan, Report informs.

“This is a question for the parties themselves, and we are not going to put ourselves against any other offer of mediation, and in fact we’re not a mediator. We are a partner to the two countries. I think we have demonstrated both in word and in deed the nature of our relationship with the two countries, our ability to bring the two countries together, our willingness and readiness to help bring about additional progress in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” he said.

“We are not doing this as a means by which to compete with Moscow. We are doing this in an effort to bring about the settlement and resolution of a longstanding dispute between these two countries, and unfortunately a dispute that has consistently taken lives, just as it did on March 5th. Our interest here is in peace and security. It’s in the interests of the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan as well,” he added.