RFE/RL Armenian Report – 07/26/2022

Tuesday, 
U.S. Ready To Work With Russia On Karabakh, Insists Envoy
        • Heghine Buniatian
Armenia - U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy is interviewed by RFE/RL in Yerevan, July 
26, 2022
The U.S. ambassador to Armenia, Lynne Tracy, on Tuesday reaffirmed Washington’s 
stated readiness for renewed cooperation with Russia on facilitating a 
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. “We have said that we are ready to use the [OSCE] Minsk Group as a platform,” 
Tracy told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service in an interview. “That offer remains open. We have not seen our Russian colleagues responding to that offer.”
The United States, Russia and France have for decades spearheaded international 
efforts to end the conflict in their capacity as the Minsk Group’s co-chairs. Moscow says Washington and Paris stopped working with it in that format 
following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried denied this during a visit to 
Yerevan last month. She insisted that the Minsk Group remains a “very important 
format” for Washington. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed Donfried’s assurances. Russian Foreign 
Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed later in June that “the Minsk Group stopped its 
activities at the initiative of the American and French co-chairs.”
In the words of Tracy, the U.S. still hopes that Russia will “re-engage in this 
format.”
“We certainly continue to the see the Minsk Group as a forum, a platform that 
has an international mandate to address the situation of Nagorno-Karabakh,” said 
the ambassador. “We will continue to look for ways to use that forum. We will 
also work bilaterally with the parties in the region.”
Armenia - CIA Director William Burns and U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy at a 
meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Yerevan, July 15, 2022. Washington, she went on, is coordinating its Karabakh peace efforts with the 
European Union, whose top official, Charles Michel, has hosted three meetings of 
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev 
in Brussels since December. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken spoke with Aliyev and Pashinian by phone on 
Monday. He tweeted afterwards that he sees a “historic opportunity to achieve 
peace in the region.”
According to a U.S. State Department spokesman, Blinken told the two leaders 
that the U.S. government is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan restore 
cross-border transport links. “Some of what we are exploring with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan is 
some technical support, some technical assessments that are ultimately aimed at 
unblocking regional transportation connections,” explained Tracy. She did not 
elaborate. The Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh 
commits Armenia to opening rail and road links between Azerbaijan and its 
Nakhichevan exclave. Aliyev has claimed that it calls for an exterritorial land 
corridor that would pass through Syunik, a strategic Armenian province that also 
borders Iran. He has threatened to take military action to open the corridor. Armenia has rejected Aliyev’s demands, saying that it must retain full control 
over all transit links on its territory. Armenia - A cargo terminal at a border crossing with Iran, November 29, 2018. (Photo by the State Revenue Committee of Armenia)
Iran has likewise signaled strong opposition to the idea of the “Zangezur 
corridor” advanced by Azerbaijan as well as Turkey. Its supreme leader, 
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned last week that Tehran “will not tolerate” 
attempts to block the Armenian-Iranian border. “Because of its location Syunik has been a very strong and appropriate focus of 
concern for its security,” Tracy said in this regard. “But at the same time I 
would just note, based on a number of trips that I’ve made, that I also see 
positive things happening there.”
The diplomat pointed to socioeconomic development projects implemented in Syunik 
by the Armenian government and the provincial administration. Asked how the U.S. would react to a possible attack on Syunik, Tracy said: “I 
don’t want to get into hypotheticals or speculate. I think this is why we are so 
focused on the diplomatic track and maintaining these direct conversations of 
encouraging progress on a number of fronts: peace negotiations, the 
[Armenian-Azerbaijani] border commission, unblocking regional transportation 
linkages. That is, I think, one of the best safeguards for the security of all 
in the region."
The USA is discussing with Armenia and Azerbaijan the issue of de-blocking the region 
the possibility of providing technical support
July 26, 2022
        • Heghine Buniatyan
The USA is discussing with Armenia and Azerbaijan the issue of de-blocking the region 
the opportunity to provide technical support, given to "Azat". 
United States Ambassador to Armenia Lynn Tracy stated in an interview.
"Freedom". - Yesterday it was announced that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken 
had telephone conversations with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan and, like himself 
wrote on Twitter, "an incident resulting from bilateral negotiations 
the positive momentum." Վերջին 30 տարիներին մենք տարածաշրջանում դրական տեղաշարժերի մասին 
we have heard many times, but the situation on the ground is not positive 
to change. Is there any reason to believe we'll have a different outcome this time?
Lynn Tracy. - I think you are right when you focus, Secretary of State 
On Blinken's phone call. It was a very warm telephone conversation. The Secretary of State emphasized 
is his perception, and I think that's the perception of the United States, that we 
we have a historic opportunity to make progress, very long lasting in the region 
in the direction of achieving a stable and comprehensive peaceful settlement of the conflict. That 
does not mean that it will be easy. You are right about looking back 
to a lot of hard work and subsequent disappointments. I think they are 
are caveats we should heed. But at the same time 
we see no alternative but to pursue and support Armenia and 
Azerbaijan's efforts to directly negotiate and try to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict 
regulation. And we're going to stay focused on that.
There is a lot of diplomatic involvement, and not just from the United States. 
Our partners in the European Union are also involved, as well as others. And 
I think it's very helpful to keep this momentum going, and to understand that 
these are complex issues and the solutions will not be easy. But we must persevere.
"Freedom". - The State Secretary during the conversation with the Prime Minister of Armenia 
offered United States support in the region for transportation and 
in facilitating communication links. Can you elaborate on what the help is? 
suggests Washington. Can we expect more involvement from the US? 
as we see with the EU or Russia participating 
trilateral meetings.
Lynn Tracy. - What we discuss about Armenia and Azerbaijan 
with governments, some technical assistance is some technical 
estimates that will contribute to transport links in the region 
unblocking. We attach great importance to that goal. I should mention that the other topic to which 
referred to by the Secretary of State, it was related to Turkey and Armenia 
the regulation of relations. That direction is also very important to us 
consider. We welcome the steps that Armenia has taken so far 
Turkey, and we call on both sides to make progress. Because we are 
we see that many of these questions are ultimately interrelated and as we see 
positive steps in one direction, it can build momentum to achieve 
broader peace in the region.
"Freedom". - Referring to Armenian-Turkish relations, both sides 
and agreed to go ahead without preconditions, however, Ankara 
continues to connect the process with Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. This 
Do you consider reconciliation realistic under the circumstances?
Lynn Tracy. - I think we should continue to test the proposals and 
engagements, let's try the areas that were highlighted in Armenia and 
by Turkey. We have also seen good negotiations with special envoys 
level, as a result of which some agreements were reached 
regarding the opening of border points. We have seen some agreement 
regarding direct shipments. Details to be worked out and I think 
that is where we will continue to encourage both Armenia and Turkey 
make progress and see that progress here can ultimately be positive 
to contribute to Armenian-Azerbaijani discussions.
The full version of the interview will be published tomorrow, July 27.
[see video]
Erdogan Links Turkey-Armenia Normalization To Azerbaijan
        • Artak Khulian
TURKEY - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the signing ceremony of: 
an agreement to unblock grain exports from Ukraine, Istanbul, July 22, 2022. Echoing a statement by his foreign minister, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip 
Erdogan has linked the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations to Armenia 
accepting Azerbaijan's key demands. “Azerbaijan has been our red line right from the beginning,” Erdogan told 
Turkish media on Monday. “We have said that we will open our doors [to Armenia] 
after problems with Azerbaijan are solved.”
“I am glad that [Prime Minister Nikol] Pashinian shares our view on regional 
peace and partnership,” he said. “We now expect that apart from making 
statements Yerevan will take concrete steps in the settlement process.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu likewise demanded such steps last week 
when he commented on prospects for normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations. He 
said Yerevan should specifically negotiate a peace accord sought by Baku and 
open a land corridor to Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave. Pashinian, his political allies and members of his government say they want an 
unconditional opening of the Turkish-Armenian border and establishment of 
diplomatic relations between the two neighboring states. Their political 
opponents claim that Pashinian is ready to make sweeping concessions to both 
Ankara and Baku. Erdogan and Cavusoglu reaffirmed the Turkish preconditions for normalizing ties 
with Armenia after four rounds of negotiations held by Turkish and Armenian 
envoys this year. During their last meeting held in Vienna on July 1, the two sides agreed to open 
the Turkish-Armenian border to citizens of third countries and to allow mutual 
cargo shipments by air. The Turkish and Armenian foreign ministries said this 
will be done “at the earliest date possible.” But they set no concrete time 
frames. The Turkish envoy, Serdar Kilic, reportedly, visited and inspected over the 
weekend a Turkish checkpoint on the Armenian border. Eduard Aghajanian, a senior Armenian lawmaker from Pashinian’s Civil Contract 
party, on Tuesday described Kilic’s trip as “good news.” “This is welcome and 
shows that [Turkish-Armenian] arrangements are already entering a practical 
stage,” he said. Aghajanian said late last week that Cavusoglu’s latest statement on 
Turkish-Armenian relations should not be seen as preconditions. Another Armenia-Azerbaijan Summit Planned
        • Naira Nalbandian
Belgium - European Council President Charles Michel, Armenian Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev begin a trilateral 
meeting in Brussels, April 6, 2022. Preparations are underway for another meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol 
Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, a senior Armenian 
parliamentarian said on Tuesday. “As far as I know, negotiations are in progress on another meeting of the 
leaders of the two countries, which should take place some time later,” Eduard 
Aghajanian, the chairman of the parliament committee on foreign relations, told 
reporters. “I can’t give any concrete dates [for the meeting.]”
“There is quite a bit of activity on the diplomatic front,” added Aghajanian. Aliyev and Pashinian met twice in Brussels this spring for talks hosted by 
European Council President Charles Michel. The latter said in May that they 
agreed to meet in the Belgian capital again in July or August. Michel phoned Aliyev on July 4 to discuss “all issues on the Brussels agenda for 
the Azerbaijan-Armenia dialogue.” He said the European Union will continue to 
mediate peace talks between the two conflicting sides. Russia has denounced the EU’s mediation efforts, saying that they are part of 
the West’s attempts to hijack Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks and use the 
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the standoff over Ukraine. Incidentally, Pashinian 
spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on July 6. Both Aliyev and Pashinian held phone calls with U.S. Secretary of State Antony 
Blinken late on Monday. The U.S. State Department spokesman, Ned Price, said 
Blinken “encouraged” Baku and Yerevan to continue their dialogue and reaffirmed 
U.S. support for their “productive EU-brokered discussions.”
He also reiterated that the United States “stands ready to engage bilaterally 
and with likeminded partners to help Armenia and Azerbaijan find a long-term 
comprehensive peace,” added Price. Blinken Talks To Armenian, Azeri Leaders
US - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gathers papers after a Senate Foreign 
Relations Committee hearing in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2022. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke of a “historic opportunity to 
achieve peace in the region” after holding separate phone calls with the leaders 
of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Monday. “I commend the positive momentum resulting from bilateral talks and urge further 
progress towards peace and stability in the region,” Blinken said in a tweet on 
his conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He also wrote: “Good discussion with [Prime Minister] Nikol Pashinian on 
Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s historic opportunity to achieve peace in the region. I commend Armenia on its positive steps forward with Azerbaijan [and] Turkey.”
According to the official Armenian readout of the call, Pashinian “reaffirmed 
his commitment to the peace agenda,” while Blinken expressed Washington’s 
readiness to assist in the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the 
opening of Armenian-Azerbaijani transport links and the release of Armenian 
prisoners of war remaining in Azerbaijan. Blinken was quick to welcome unmediated talks held by the Armenian and 
Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Tbilisi on July 16. The ministers reported no 
concrete agreements after the talks. They both spoke with U.S. Assistant 
Secretary of State Karen Donfried by phone on July 17. In what may have been a related development, CIA Director William Burns made a 
surprise visit to Yerevan on July 15. Pashinian’s press office said he discussed 
with Burns “processes taking place in the South Caucasus.” Washington has not 
commented on the purpose of the visit. Earlier in July, Pashinian phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss 
the implementation of Armenian-Azerbaijani agreements brokered by Moscow. The 
Kremlin said they focused on “ensuring security on the Armenian-Azerbaijani 
border” and “restoring economic, transport and logistics ties in the South 
Caucasus.”
The United States, Russia and France have for decades jointly tried to broker an 
Armenian-Azerbaijani peace accord in their capacity as the co-chairs of the 
Minsk Group. Moscow says Washington and Paris stopped working with it in that 
format following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Visiting Yerevan last month, Donfried insisted that the Minsk Group remains a 
“very important format” for Washington. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed 
Donfried’s assurances. Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL
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