Washington: Direct Baku-Yerevan dialogue key to achieving lasting Azerbaijan-Armenia peace

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price has said that a direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia is key to achieving lasting peace between the two countries.

He made the remarks during a press briefing in Washington on October 25, Caliber.Az reports.

"As the Secretary [Anthony Blinken] has emphasized, we are committed to peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We’ve encouraged both leaders to meet in whatever format is most useful to them. We believe direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and to reaching lasting peace. It's why Secretary Blinken brought together his foreign minister counterparts from Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York City in September, the first time that the two had been in the same room since the recent flare-up of violence," he said.

Price stressed that the only US goal in the region is "to see and to help the two countries work together to bring about a comprehensive and lasting peace, and ultimately to save lives".

"It's ultimately for Armenia and Azerbaijan to decide whether President Putin’s invitation would be helpful or useful to them in pursuit of that lasting peace...ultimately, this is going to be a decision that Armenian and Azerbaijan will have to reach," the State Department spokesman added.