Menendez calls for US engagement in South Caucasus

New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez on Tuesday called for U.S. engment in Sourn Caucasus region following weeks of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia that has killed thousands. Democrat, who is ranking member on Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke on Senate floor and expressed his "solidarity with ethnic Armenians."

Menendez said "dark days" suffered "did t have to be this way, American leership could have averted much of this trdy." But he said it "happened while Donald Trump slept yet ar example of diplomatic malpractice at highest levels of an ministration will thankfully conclude in January."

Armenia And Azerbaijan agreed to a Russian-backed cease fire last week that halted fighting over disputed Nagor-Karabakh region. pact signed with Russia calls for deployment of nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers and territorial concessions by Armenia.

On Tuesday, Turkey’s parliament also granted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government permission to deploy peacekeepers to Azerbaijan to monitor cease-fire deal, creating what Menendez called a concerning "return of great power politics in this critical region." "And yet world's sole superpower is conspicuously absent. This needs to change," he said. Menendez said he has "every confidence" that President-elect Joe Biden will "live up to America's responsibilities on world st by actually engaging on all of se issues."