Washington Solacing Baku: US Does Not Recognize NKR Independence

The United States has never been biased over the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Deputy Press Secretary of US State Department Mark Toner said in an interview with the Azerbaijani service of Voice of America radio station.

It comes after heavily-worded statements from by Azerbaijani officials - among them also President Ilham Aliyev - accusing the US of "siding with Armenia over the Karabakh issue."

"The United States does support the Minsk Group's efforts seeking a solution to the Karabakh issue," said Toner, adding that "there is no cold in US-Azerbaijani relations."

He also mentioned that as a Minsk Group co-chair state the United States is working towards finding a solution for reconciliation and establishment of peace between the two countries.

The American diplomat also said that Washington does not recognize the independence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.