World
"Armenia and Azerbaijan decide whether Putin's invitation will be useful for them"
During the daily briefing, US State Affairs spokesman Ned Price announced, "As the secretary emphasized, we are committed to the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We have encouraged both leaders to meet in a format that works best for them. Direct dialogue is key to solving problems and achieving lasting peace. That is why Secretary of State Blinken gathered the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in New York in September, the first time they were in the same room since the last tension. Ultimately, it is up to Armenia and Azerbaijan to decide whether Putin's invitation will be helpful for them to pursue a lasting peace.
Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia and its continued brutal incursion into Ukraine demonstrate that Moscow has little respect for the sovereignty of its neighbors and is unlikely to be a reliable, long-term partner. But, in the end, this will be a decision that Armenia and Azerbaijan should make.
After all, no one supports the sovereignty and independence of the countries of the South Caucasus more than the USA. The freedom of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia from the USSR in 1991 was an important event that guaranteed the right of each of these countries to pursue their foreign political interests independently of Moscow or any other government."
