The United States is committed to redoubling efforts to ease tensions and resolve conflicts throughout the region. Recently, the leaders of Turkey and Armenia took an important step toward reducing their long-standing tensions, William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs said in a statement before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

"We applaud the initiative of Armenian President Sargsyan to invite his Turkish counterpart to Yerevan, and President Gul's willingness to accept the invitation. Their meeting creates a new atmosphere in the relationship, and gives hope that a long-overdue thaw has begun. The normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia could also help open up trade and transportation routes for the entire South Caucasus," he said.

Touching on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Mr Burns said that its costs can still be counted in terms of refugees and displaced persons - nearly a million altogether - provinces denuded of populations, lost economic opportunities, and disrupted trade. "The U.S. Government will do all it can to encourage the parties to show greater flexibility and creativity in their negotiations. We will do everything possible to promote a just and lasting settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," he said.