Visiting Yerevan, Pelosi condemns Azerbaijan over Armenia attack

In Armenia, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, says that the United States deplores recent attacks by Azerbaijan and calls for a negotiated solution to the countries’ conflict.

Pelsoi’s visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with a congressional delegation comes just a few days days after two days of shelling by both sides that killed more than 200 troops. It is the largest outbreak of hostilities there in more than two years.

Armenia and Azerbaijan each blame the other for starting the shelling attacks last week.

Pelosi met today with Alen Simonyan, president of Armenia’s parliament, and tells reporters afterward, “Our meeting again had a particular importance to us because the focus was on security following the illegal and deadly attacks by Azerbaijan on the Armenian territory.”

“We strongly condemn those attacks — we in our delegation on behalf of Congress — which threaten prospects for a much-needed peace agreement,” she says. “The United States… has clearly and has long stated that there can be no military solution to the conflict. We continue to watch the situation closely and we continue supporting a negotiated, comprehensive and sustainable solution to all issues relating to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”