US concerned about presence of Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh

The United States is going to continue to play a role in engaging with Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership at the highest levels to pursue a dignified and durable peace, said US State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel, answering the question whether the US will protect Armenia from “potential Russian aggression”, taking into account Moscow’s reaction to Armenia’s ratification of the Rome Statute.

“We respect Armenia’s sovereignty and independence, and we’ll leave it to Armenia’s Government to comment on its legislative processes, of course. We respect the right of every country to join the ICC and have been encouraged by many states, including Armenia, that have undertaken commitments to promote justice, accountability for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
What I will say, though, is that the United States is going to continue to play a role in engaging with Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership at the highest levels to pursue a dignified and durable peace,” he said.

Patel reiterated his call “for a longer-term, independent, international monitoring mission in Nagorno-Karabakh to provide transparency and reassurances that the rights and securities of ethnic Armenians will be protected, particularly for those who may wish to return, and for the protection of cultural heritage sites, which all of course is in line with Azerbaijan’s public statements and their international obligations as well.”

When asked about the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh, he said that he “does not want to speculate” on this topic.

“Of course, that kind of presence continues to be concerning. But the United States is going to continue to remain focused on engaging with Azerbaijani and Armenian leadership on this, and doing whatever we can to continue to have a dignified and durable peace on this.”

Commenting on the UN report on the situation in Artsakh, Patel noted that the US “certainly appreciates that – those comments from the UN spokesperson”, but that does not change its point of view on this.

“We continue to believe, even in the light of the UN visit, that there is a strong desire and a need for a longer-term, independent international monitoring mission in Nagorno-Karabakh. We think that that will provide transparency; we think that it will provide the appropriate reassurances for the various rights and securities that we continue to be deeply concerned about,” Patel said.