US sees unique opportunity for Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal Secretary of State Blinken says

The Washington administration believes there is a unique opportunity to achieve peace agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized the significance of this moment during his speech at the Brookings Institution, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

"There is an extraordinary opportunity, potential to realize a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that ends decades of conflict and actually creates in the region, I think, a tremendous opportunity for economic connectivity, for economic growth, for connecting countries both east, west, north, and south. Azerbaijan has a critical role to play in that," Blinken stated.

Blinken further emphasized that the US has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts to foster peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "We have invested intensely in our own – with our own diplomacy in trying to help bring Azerbaijan and Armenia to a peace agreement," he said.

The Secretary of State underscored the feasibility of achieving these agreements. "We’ve done that in very close collaboration, coordination with the European Union, and I think that that’s something that really is within reach. I was speaking just about a week ago to President Ilham Aliyev on this. I think that’s achievable, and it’s manifestly in the interests of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the broader region," he added.

Blinken’s comments reflect the US administration’s optimism about the potential for a lasting resolution to the long-standing conflict between the two nations.