Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan meet in New York City

Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan meet in New York City
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US Secretary of State who hosted the meeting has urged the sides to prevent further hostilities and to return to the peace process.

Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met in New York City on Monday on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly, six days after the outbreak of clashes between the two countries that left nearly 200 dead.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov for the first direct talks since the recent fighting, US State Department announced.

"Secretary Blinken conveyed condolences for the lives lost and emphasized the need to prevent further hostilities, underscoring the importance of returning to the peace process. They discussed next steps, and the Secretary encouraged the sides to meet again before the end of the month," it said without providing details on the discussions.

The meeting was held only a day after the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Armenia and condemned Azerbaijani attacks, drawing complaints from Baku.

The deadly clashes that began on 13 September were reportedly initiated by Azerbaijan's coordinated attacks along the border.