U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Monday, October 10 and underscored the importance of discussions about the rights and securities for the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to a statement from the Department of State, Blinken welcomed Azerbaijan’s release of 17 PoWs to Armenia on October 4 and urged President Aliyev to continue time-bound and measurable steps to support the peace process.

“Secretary Blinken reiterated U.S. support, including for clear border delimitation, transportation linkages, recovery and identification of missing persons, return of detainees, and other issues,” the Department of State said.

“He underscored the importance of discussions about the rights and securities for the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and need for both sides to maintain the cease-fire and focus on a negotiated agreement as the only path to a lasting peace.”

Blinken also spoke to Pashinyan later in the day and urged him to work with Azerbaijan on making time-bound and measurable steps to support the peace process.

The latest round of fighting between the two countries began in the wee hours of September 13, when the Azerbaijani military attacked Armenian posts and shelled Armenian settlements both on the border and deep behind the frontline. More than 200 people are dead or missing as a result, the Security Council of Armenia said on Monday.