Azerbaijan, Baku, April 27 / Trend A. Gasimova /
The tragic loss of life in the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia reminds us that there cannot be a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Acting Deputy Spokesperson Patrick Ventrell said during a briefing in Washington.
"Only a lasting and peaceful settlement can bring stability, prosperity, and reconciliation to the region," he said. "The United States is a co-chair of the Minsk Group, and we
remain firmly committed to working with both sides to achieve peace."
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.