Blinken welcomes the ceasefire, Pelosi set to visit Armenia in a show of support to Yerevan

The United States welcomed the “cessation of hostilities” between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country will continue to work with all parties to seek “to cement” the situation, in a social media post on Thursday. 

Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives on the other hand is set to visit Armenia on the weekend, in a bid to show support for Yerevan, Politico said, citing two sources familiar with the visit.

Armenia and Azerbaijan who have been embroiled in a decades-long dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, fought a two-days long battle that have ended with a ceasefire agreement on late Wednesday. The two warring countries blamed each other for attacking first. The clashes have left 176 military casualties in total from both sides. 

The United States remains committed to promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region, Blinken said. 

We welcome the cessation of hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia and will continue to work with the parties to seek to cement it. The United States remains committed to promoting a peaceful and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 15, 2022

The US Speaker Pelosi is expected to meet with Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan, as well as other government officials, Politiko said on Thursday. 

Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff did not confirm the trip, it said.

“We don’t confirm or deny international travel in advance due to longstanding security protocols,” Hammill told the website. 

Jackie Speier, another Democratic representative with Armenian descent will accompany Pelosi during her journey, Politico added.

In September 2020, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the disputed region in a Second Nagorno-Karabakh war. The six weeks of clashes resulted with a Russia brokered truce agreement and Armenia handed back territories in the region as part of the November 2020 deal.