U.S. fears "risk of destabilization" in Karabakh because of Russia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Clarke Cooper, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, has said that Russia's presence carries a "risk of destabilization" for Nagorno-Karabakh, RIA Novosti reports.

During one of Cooper's press briefings, an Azerbaijani journalist asked him how the U.S. intends to help countries in the region resist Russian influence.

Cooper said in response that where there is a Russian presence, there is a risk of destabilization, as well as a challenge to all states and parties involved [in the matter].

According to him, the United States advocates the need for peace negotiations and the participation of the Minsk Group in them, and also "pays additional attention to the humanitarian space.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev on November 9 signed a statement to end the war in Karabakh after almost 45 days. Under the deal, the Armenian side has returned all the seven regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, having lost a part of Karabakh itself in hostilities.