U.S. 'deeply disturbed' by loss of life in Nagorno-Karabakh
The State Department said on Wednesday that it was “deeply disturbed” by the deaths of four Artsakh soldiers who were killed in an overnight attack by Azerbaijan.
"We are deeply disturbed by the loss of life in Nagorno-Karabakh and we offer our condolences to the families of all of those who were killed," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told a press briefing.
He said that the latest incidents "underscore the need to refrain from hostilities and for a durable and dignified peace."
The Azeri attack came after the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened three days of peace talks between Armenia's and Azerbaijan's foreign ministers in Washington on June 27.
Patel said Tuesday’s meetings with the foreign ministers were "constructive". “We will continue to build on those discussions today and tomorrow as the peace talks continue,” he added.
Asked whether the latest tensions had derailed the talks, Patel said, “there is no change in the schedule.” The Washington talks are scheduled to last until Thursday.
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