U.S. offered to Armenia and Azerbaijan technical assistance on issues ranging from border delimitation to the planning of transportation routes. Philip Reeker

U.S. Secretary of State's adviser on Caucasus negotiations and OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Philip Reeker, speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, said he was in the region during the
September 13-14 fighting and met with President Aliyev on September 14 to urge an end to the violence.

"My meetings with Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders paralleled urgent and around-the-clock engagements
with leadership of the two countries by Secretary Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Assistant Secretary Donfried, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Erika Olson, as well as by our colleagues at the Department of Defense. Those engagements have continued since, and the joint efforts of the United States, EU, and partner countries have paved the way for a series of meetings between Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to discuss peace.

Despite recent hostilities, we are encouraged by the pace of engagement by Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership in the peace process. The leaders have met for negotiations on multiple occasions in recent months as part of an EU-facilitated peace process, most recently in Prague on
October 6.

The Prague meeting produced two meaningful outcomes that have the potential to pave the way for peace: mutual recognition of the 1991 Almaty Declaration as a basis for border discussions, and acceptance of an EU “Monitoring Capacity” with the potential to build confidence amongst the sides and deescalate potential hostilities.

The United States is engaged bilaterally, through partners like the EU and its peace process, and through international organizations like the OSCE" he said.

Reeker underlined, that as with any peace negotiations, these are difficult discussions that focus on issues complicated by layers of history. But the pace and depth of the current discussions demonstrates a clear potential for a settlement that could end decades of conflict.

"Of course, much remains to be done by both governments, including investigating allegations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations, holding perpetrators accountable, ceasing inflammatory
rhetoric, and fostering reconciliation. Though the U.S. and EU are facilitating negotiations between the sides,
the substance of these discussions is being led by Armenian and Azerbaijani representatives themselves. Direct negotiations held at the initiative of the two countries and driven by their interests, rather than
the interests of outside actors, have the greatest chance of long-term success. We will support those efforts in any way we can. The Secretary has not only offered his counsel, but he has also offered U.S. technical assistance on issues ranging from border delimitation to the planning of transportation routes. While the resolution of contentious issues remains the responsibility of Armenia and Azerbaijan, I have made it clear the international community has a specific responsibility to ensure that the rights and security of ethnic Armenians are addressed credibly and in line with a peace settlement. To that end, I have repeatedly encouraged the leaders in both countries to consider an    international mechanism to ensure, monitor, and report on any agreement involving Nagorno-Karabakh.

The sides are at an historic crossroads. We are encouraging them to choose a future of prosperity and demonstrate the wisdom of working together on a peace that will benefit the people of the region for
generations to come. Our efforts will continue towards this goal, and we will do so in any way we can” he said.