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TBILISI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - U.S. condominium of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday strongly condemned what she mentioned have been "unlawful" border assaults by means of Azerbaijan on Armenia, the usage of a talk over with to the Russian ally to pledge American aid for its sovereignty.
Pelosi solid her go back and forth to Armenia, a sliver of land the measurement of U.S. state of Maryland that's wedg ed between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Iran, as an try and strengthen help for what she solid as a beacon of democracy.
speakme in the historical city of Yerevan, Pelosi spoke of her travel had value following the "illegal and lethal assaults via Azerbaijan on Armenian territory" that caused border clashes wherein more than 200 americans were killed.
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"We strongly condemn those attacks," Pelosi stated beside Armenian parliamentary speaker Alen Simonyan, who last week expressed sadness with the response of a Russian-led armed fo rces alliance to Yerevan's request for aid. examine more
Pelosi, who angered China with a trip to Taiwan closing month, mentioned it became clear that the border combating was caused by using Azeri assaults on Armenia and that the chronology of the battle should still be made clear.
The combating "become initiated by way of the Azeris and there needs to be cognizance of that," Pelosi spoke of.
Pelosi's remarks drew an unusually mighty rebuke from Baku, which mentioned she become endangering the peace within the Caucasus.
"The unsubstantiated and unfair accusations levelled by using Pelosi in opposition t Azerbaijan are unacceptable," the foreign ministry observed in an announcement.
"this is a significant blow to the efforts to normalize family members between Armenia and Azerbaijan," the ministry pointed out, casting Pelosi's remarks as "Armenian propaganda".
this sort of definitive apportioning of blame for the battle goes beyond what the U.S. State department has up to now noted in public. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed issues over the combating and known as for calm however did not assign blame.
Armenia pointed out Azerbaijan shelled at the least six Armenian settlements internal the border presently after nighttime on Sept. 13, attacking civilian and army infrastructure with drones and big calibre guns. Yerevan referred to it changed into unprovoked aggression.
Azerbaijan, backed with the aid of Turkey, reject s those claims. Baku says Armenian sabotage devices tried to mine Azeri positions, prompting soldiers to respond. Armenia says that narrative is Azeri disinformation.
Russia, which again and again condemned Pelosi's consult with to Taiwan, considers the Caucasus as its own sphere of influence and bristles at what it casts as U.S. meddling within the location.
Moscow notwithstanding, is preoccupied via the battle in Ukraine which has triggered the greatest confrontation with the West in view that the height of the cold struggle.
Russia is Armenia's foremost defense force ally, has a military base in northern Armenia and peacekeepers along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh, over which Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a battle in 2020.
President Vladimir Putin mentioned on Friday that Russia had sufficient components to mediate within the battle. The newest fighting ended after a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
however after appeals for support, the Collective safety Treaty firm (CSTO), a Russian-led defense force allian ce of former Soviet republics that includes Armenia but no longer Azerbaijan, decided on Tuesday to dispatch a monitoring mission.
Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Simonyan referred to he became disappointed with the response, likening the CSTO to a pistol that did not shoot bullets.
speaking beside Pelosi, U.S. representative Frank Pallone talked about the USA wanted to do some thing it may to be more supportive of Armenia's security.
the USA, Pelosi pointed out, became taking note of Armenia about what its defence wants were and observed Washington desired to assist and assist Armenia in what she cast as a world battle between democracy and autocracy.
"We should still be the usage of our influence, our leverage showing that Armenian democracy and sovereignty is a priority," Pelosi referred to. "The velvet revolution turned into cheered globally."
Armenian top Minister Nikol Pashinyan rose to energy in 2018 after anti-executive protests referred to as Armenia's Velvet Revolution.
Pelosi talked about it became enjoyable that Armenia turned into disillusioned by way of the response from Russia.
"it's wonderful that they had been dissatisfied they got reality finders and never coverage from that relationship and we will see what happens next," she said.
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Writing with the aid of guy Faulconbridge, editing by way of William Maclean, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Alex Richardson
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