Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to underscore the importance of Azerbaijan-Armenia peace discussions and pledged continued U.S. support, Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Sunday, April 30.

“Secretary Blinken shared his belief that peace was possible,” Miller said.

“He also expressed the United States’ deep concern that Azerbaijan’s establishment of a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor undermines efforts to establish confidence in the peace process, and emphasized the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor to commercial and private vehicles as soon as possible.”

Blinken earlier spoke with Armenia’s Prime Minster Nikol Pashinyan to reiterate that direct dialogue and diplomacy are the only path to a durable peace in the South Caucasus. He “expressed his appreciation for the Prime Minister’s continued commitment to the peace process”, his office said.