The statement made by an official of the U.S. State Department on May 30, welcoming recent statements by the Baku authorities about their willingness to consider a so-called amnesty for the residents of Artsakh, is deeply disappointing and perplexing.“It is hard to explain how anything positive and commendable could have been found in the statement of the Baku authorities, based on outright blackmail and coercion.

It is obvious that the main message of the statement by the Baku authorities was to refuse an equal dialogue with the democratically elected authorities of the Republic of Artsakh and to strive to impose their power on the people of Artsakh by force.

We have no doubt that the U.S. intends to play a positive role in achieving a fair, balanced and dignified settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict and establishing a durable peace in the region.

At the same time, we believe that encouraging Baku’s destructive and bellicose policy is not the best way to make positive developments in the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

The Government of Western Armenia has repeatedly referred to such a statement of the European Union.