US wades in cautiously to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace effort

Trump ministration wed cautiously into international efforts to halt fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan , which are engd in ir worst conflict in more than 25 years.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met separately on Friday in Washington with foreign ministers of both countries in a bid to promote a cease-fire in hostilities over disputed region of Nagor-Karabakh.

re was immediate comment from any of sides about meetings, which followed failed Russian-led attempts to broker a truce and lower-profile U.S. intervention to promote an end to fighting. U.S. officials, including Pompeo's deputy, Stephen Biegun, have appealed for countries to return to a dialogue over territory.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting rd over Nagor-Karabakh even as discussions in Washington were taking place. two sides tred accusations involving shelling of residential areas, and authorities in Nagor-Karabakh said town of Martakert and several vills in Martuni region were struck by Azerbaijani rockets.

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry denied claim and accused Armenian forces of targeting Terter, Agdam and Agjabedi regions of Azerbaijan overnight.

Nagor-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since a war re ended in 1994. fighting that started Sept. 27 marks worst escalation in conflict since war’s end.

According to Nagor-Karabakh officials, 927 of ir troops have been killed and more than 30 civilians also have died. Azerbaijan hasn’t disclosed its military losses, but says 63 civilians have been killed and 292 have been wounded. Armenia officially isn’t engd in fighting.

Azerbaijan has accused Armenia of targeting its towns and vills with artillery and missiles, which Armenian authorities have denied.

Russian President Vlimir Putin said Thursday that Moscow’s information indicated that combined death toll from nearly four weeks of fighting was approaching 5,000, a significantly higher number than officially reported by warring parties.

Russia, along with United States, has co-chaired so-called Minsk Group set up by Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to mediate in conflict.

Putin said Russia is doing its best to negotiate a lasting truce. He voiced hope that United States would work cooperatively to help end hostilities and mediate a political settlement.

Turkey has thrown its weight behind Azerbaijan, vowing to support its longtime ally “on battlefield or negotiating table.” It has trained Azerbaijani military and provided it with strike drones and long-range rocket systems that gave Azerbaijan a strong edge on battlefield.

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