During a phone conversation on March 20, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Armenian PM Nikol Pashinian that the US would persist in helping to facilitate discussions to achieve peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In a Twitter post on the call, Blinken said Washington remains committed to helping the two South Caucasus nations reach a “sustainable peace." 

“Diplomacy is the only way to peace in the South Caucasus,” he wrote. 

According to the readout published by the US State Department, Blinken thanked Pashinyan for Armenia’s continued commitment to peace and encouraged concrete steps forward in finding solutions to outstanding issues. “He reiterated US support for direct talks and diplomacy to support a lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus and stressed that there is no military solution.”

According to the statement of the Armenian government, the sides also discussed issues related to the humanitarian crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor. It said Blinken reiterated the US calls for the immediate lifting of the blockade. 

The statement concluded that “Pashinian expressed concern over 'Azerbaijan's increasingly aggressive rhetoric.”

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