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The US State department condemns in the strongest terms the violence erupted in Nagorno Karabakh from this weekend, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said. The official’s comments came at a press briefing held in Washington on April 4. Asked what is the United State position regarding the large-scale violations of the ceasefire in Nagorno Karabakh, Mr. Toner refereed to the US Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement calling on the parties to immediately cease the hostilities, de-escalate the situation and proceed with negotiation process within the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.

“I think what’s important here is that first of all, the violence stops. We don’t want to see any kind of escalation. We want to see de-escalation. We want to see a credible ceasefire return,” said Toner.

The US official reminded the US official position on the just and fair resolution of the Karabakh conflict, which should be proceeded through an “an existing mechanism  - the Minsk Group.”

“What I would say to that is we strongly support the Minsk Group process. We strongly support the co-chairs’ efforts to mediate a fair and just resolution to Nagorno-Karabakh that is based on the principles of international law, the UN Charter, and the Helsinki Final Act, particularly principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity, and self-determination. As I said, ultimately, this is up to the two leaders and the two governments to find the political will to reach that lasting peace. We are willing, through the Minsk Group process, to work with them to get there,” Toner noted.