State Department Documents and Publications
June 21, 2017
Recent Violence and Casualties in Nagorno-Karabakh
Press Statement
Heather Nauert
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
June 21, 2017
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The United States is deeply concerned over the recent violations of
the ceasefire, which have resulted in multiple casualties on the Line
of Contact over the last week. We urge the sides to avoid escalation
and encourage immediate consideration of measures to reduce tensions
along the Line of Contact and the international border between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.
In their statement released June 19, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
called upon the parties to re-engage in negotiations on substance, in
good faith, and with political will. The Co-Chairs further underscored
that such negotiations are the only way to bring a lasting peace to
the people of the region, who expect and deserve progress toward
settlement of the conflict.
The United States continues to engage intensely with the sides. Our
longstanding policy, shared by the Minsk Group co-chairs, is that a
just settlement must be based on international law, which includes the
Helsinki Final Act, in particular the principles of non-use of force,
territorial integrity, and self-determination.
