US welcomes end of hostilities in Karabakh

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Tuesday welcomed a cessation of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding the Karabakh conflict, with a recent Russia-brokered deal to end the fighting.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Washington called for an end to the violence from the start of recent hostilities and condemned deadly military escalation between the two neighbors.

"Ending the recent fighting is only the first step toward achieving a peaceful, negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," said Pompeo.

The top diplomat also announced $5 million in humanitarian assistance to support operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international and non-governmental organization partners to assist people affected by the recent fighting.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

New clashes erupted Sept. 27 and the Armenian army continued its attacks on civilian and Azerbaijani forces, even violating humanitarian cease-fire agreements for 44 days.

Baku liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from Armenian occupation during that time.

On Nov. 10, the two countries signed a Russia-brokered agreement to end fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.