The United States Embassy in Armenia is calling on Azerbaijan to return its troops to their initial positions

The United States Embassy in Armenia is calling on Azerbaijan to return its troops to their initial positions, the embassy said in response to a query from First Channel News.

To the question, “how do you assess Azerbaijan’s actions towards the sovereign territory of Armenia?” the US Embassy to Armenia answered: “There can be no military solution to the conflict, and the use of force is not acceptable. We mourn the loss of life, including reports of multiple civilian deaths inside Armenia.

“We call on Azerbaijan to return troops to their initial positions. We urge that the cessation of hostilities and disengagement of military forces be maintained, and work to resolve all outstanding issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan through peaceful negotiations continued. The United States is prepared to do whatever it can to support these efforts.”

To the question “What is your position regarding Azerbaijan’s targeting of civilian settlements and infrastructure in the territory of Armenia, as a result of which there are also victims?”, the Embassy answered, “We have observed first-hand damage to civilian infrastructure inside Armenia and have seen reports of Armenian civilian casualties, both of which are deeply concerning and underscore the need to prevent further hostilities and the importance of diplomatic engagement.”

“What is your position regarding Azerbaijan’s capture of Armenian servicemen in the sovereign territory of Armenia, reports of torture against them, as well as non-return of them to the Armenian side?” ‘First Channel News asked. The answer was, “We have seen reports of capture of Armenian servicemembers and reports of torture. The immediate, unconditional return of those captured in last week’s attacks, as well as the return of all other detainees, is an important step to achieving a lasting peace. The United States condemns torture wherever and whenever it occurs and strongly urges governments to abide by their international obligations and end impunity for these crimes.”