Pompeo expects Armenia to defend itself from Azerbaijan

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In the framework of the interview with WBS, Pompeo also referred to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. We are hopeful that the Armenians can defend themselves from what the Azerbaijanis are doing. The chief of US diplomacy expressed hope that they will successfully achieve the ceasefire and then sit down at the table and try to solve ... what is a truly historic and complicated set of problems.

The United States, which has a strong Armenian diaspora but growing strategic relations with Azerbaijan, has for the past two weeks maintained its neutrality on the violence, urging both sides to speak up. The resolution of this conflict must be done through negotiation and peaceful discussions, not through an armed conflict, and certainly not with third countries that come to lend their firepower to what is already a barrel of gunpowder.

In this sense, Pompeo renewed his criticism of Turkey, a NATO ally, which has firmly supported Azerbaijan. Now we have the Turks, who have intervened and provided resources to Azerbaijan increasing the risk increasing the firepower that is taking place in this historic fight for this place called Nagorno Karabakh..

The United States has the co-chairmanship of the so called Minsk Group in charge of diplomacy in Nagorno Karabakh along with Russia and France. The Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire over the weekend, but both sides accused the other of violating the agreement a few hours after it was supposed to go into effect. Azerbaijani forces have advanced along the north and south of the front line taking positions in Karabakh and in two districts of Azerbaijan that have been under Armenian control since 1994.