Miller: We repeat our call for the immediate and simultaneous opening of the Lachin and Aghdam routes

We have consistently stressed this need to open routes in
Nagorno-Karabakh and for a dialogue between the parties. Spokesperson for the
U.S. Department of State Matthew Miller made a statement on this.

He noted that while it is important that Nagorno-Karabakh
have credible representatives for this process, the U.S. does not recognize
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent and sovereign state, and therefore they do
not recognize the results of the presidential elections.

“So I will say that the United States will continue to
strongly support efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve outstanding
issues through direct dialogue, and that’s why Secretary Blinken and Senior
Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Lou Bono have been consistently engaged, and
we will stay consistently engaged on this question,” he said.

Referring to the Armenia-U.S. joint military drills, Miller
noted that the exercise has nothing to do with a potential Azerbaijani attack.

“We routinely train and operate alongside our partners to
maintain readiness, and we continuously improve on the interoperability between
our armed forces.  Armenia is a longstanding partner to the United States
and has an enduring relationship since 2003 with the Kansas National Guard as
part of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program.  So no,
this is a routine exercise that is in no way tied to any other events,” he
said.