NEWNow you can listen to the articles from Fox News!
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenia as “illegal” during a Sunday press conference with Armenian officials.
Pelosi led a congressional delegation to the region this weekend, days after some 200 soldiers were killed in clashes between the two countries. The conflict centers on the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is ethnically Armenian but legally belongs to Azerbaijan, a situation that has resulted in decades of violence.
Azerbaijan and Armenia agreed on a ceasefire days before Pelosi’s arrival.
“Our meeting, once again, was of particular importance to us due to the focus on security following Azerbaijan’s illegal and deadly attacks on Armenian territory,” Pelosi said on Sunday.
THE AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA FIGHT LEAVES 99 DEAD, PUTIN SEEMS TO ‘DECALCULATE’ THE CONFLICT
The US Congressional delegation led by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives in Yerevan for its first visit to Armenia on Saturday, September 17, 2022.
(United States Embassy in Armenia)
“We strongly condemn those attacks, we in our delegation on behalf of Congress, which threaten the prospects of a much-needed peace agreement,” he added, saying the conflict “was initiated by the Azeris, and this must be acknowledged.”
Pelosi’s delegation includes representatives Jackie Speier, D-California, Anna Eshoo, D-California and Frank Pallone Jr., D-NJ. Their trip was planned before the attacks. Speier and Eshoo are both American Armenians.
Russian officials attempted to negotiate a ceasefire between the two countries early last week, but the deal was broken in less than a day.
Russia has tried to take the lead in peacekeeping efforts due to the conflict’s proximity to its borders.
IRAN ENTERS RUSSIA, GROUP LEADING CHINA TO AVOID WESTERN SANCTIONS: REPORT
In this image taken from a YouTube video released by the Armenian Ministry of Defense on Tuesday 13 September 2022, it shows Azerbaijani soldiers crossing the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and approaching Armenian positions. The Armenian Prime Minister says 49 soldiers were killed in Azerbaijan’s night attacks. (Armenian Ministry of Defense via AP)
(Armenian Ministry of Defense via AP)
“It’s hard to overestimate the role of the Russian Federation, Putin’s role personally,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week, according to Reuters. “The president is of course making every effort to help ease tensions at the border.”
Pelosi’s statement in Armenia could be taken as a rebuke for Russia’s ongoing efforts.
The Azerbaijani government responded to Pelosi’s condemnation on Sunday, dismissing it as “Armenian propaganda”.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“The baseless and unjust allegations made by Pelosi against Azerbaijan are unacceptable,” the Azerbaijani foreign ministry said in a statement, according to Reuters.
“This is a major blow to the efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the statement continues.
