Blinken Emphasizes the Importance of Demarcation in Conversation with Aliyev Between Yerevan and Baku

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone conversation today with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, during which he praised Aliyev's announcement last week that Yerevan and Baku have agreed to accept the 1991 Almaty Declaration as the basis for border demarcation. Blinken emphasized its significance for both sides on the path to achieving sustainable and dignified peace. This was reported by the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, Matthew Miller.

"The U.S. Secretary of State urged the Azerbaijani president to maintain the momentum with his Armenian counterpart, reaffirming the U.S. readiness to support these efforts," the State Department's statement noted. Additionally, Blinken reiterated the U.S. commitment to deepening relations with Azerbaijan in the fields of energy, climate, and communications.

He also once again called on Azerbaijan to uphold its international human rights obligations and to release those unjustly detained in Azerbaijan. The press service of the Azerbaijani president, for its part, stated that in the conversation with Blinken, Aliyev mentioned the commencement of the border demarcation process with Armenia, calling it a positive step.

It was also noted that the phone call was initiated by the American side. It is worth recalling that a phone conversation also took place earlier between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Antony Blinken.