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TBILISI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - U.S. residence of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday strongly condemned what she stated were "unlawful" border attacks with the aid of Azerbaijan on Armenia, using a talk over with to the Russian ally to pledge American support for its sovereignty.
Pelosi solid her trip to Armenia, a sliver of land the size of U.S. state of Maryland that's wedged between Azerbaijan, Georgia, T urkey and Iran, as an try to toughen aid for what she solid as a beacon of democracy.
speakme within the historical city of Yerevan, Pelosi talked about her shuttle had significance following the "unlawful and deadly assaults via Azerbaijan on Armenian territory" that caused border clashes during which greater 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 defense force alliance to Ye revan's request for support. examine more
Pelosi, who angered China with a visit to Taiwan remaining month, referred to it changed into clear that the border fighting became prompted by way of Azeri assaults on Armenia and that the chronology of the battle should be made clear.
The combating "was initiated with the aid of the Azeris and there must be recognition of that," Pelosi mentioned.
Pelosi's remarks drew an u nusually strong rebuke from Baku, which referred to she turned into endangering the peace in the Caucasus.
"The unsubstantiated and unfair accusations levelled by way of Pelosi in opposition t Azerbaijan are unacceptable," the international ministry talked about in a press release.
"here is a major blow to the efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan," the ministry noted, casting Pelosi's remarks as "Armenian propaganda".
this type of definitive apportioning of blame for the battle goes past what the U.S. State department has to date referred to in public. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed considerations over the fighting and known as for calm but didn't assign blame.
Armenia talked about Azerbaijan shelled at the least six Armenian settlements inner the border shortly after nighttime on Sept. 13, attacking civilian and army infrastructure with drones and large calibre weapons. Yerevan noted it become unprovoked aggression.
Azerbaijan, backed via Turkey, rejects those claims. Baku says Armenian sabotage instruments tried to mine Azeri positions, prompting soldiers to respond. Armenia says that narrative is Azeri disinformation.
Russia, which repeatedly condemned Pelosi's discuss with to Taiwan, considers the Caucasus as its personal sphere of have an effect on and bristles at what it casts as U.S. meddling in the region.
Moscow even though, is preoccupied by means of the struggle in Ukraine which has brought on the largest disagreement with the West considering the fact that the height of the cold war.
Russia is Armenia's important military ally, has a armed forces base in northern Armenia and peacekeepers alongside the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh, over which Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a battle in 2020.
President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia had ample materials to mediate in the battle. The latest fighting ended after a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
but after appeals for support, the Collective protection Treaty organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance of former So viet republics that comprises Armenia but no longer Azerbaijan, selected Tuesday to dispatch a monitoring mission.
Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Simonyan observed he was disenchanted with the response, likening the CSTO to a pistol that did not shoot bullets.
speakme beside Pelosi, U.S. consultant Frank Pallone observed the us wanted to do whatever it could to be extra supportive of Armenia's safety.
the united st ates, Pelosi talked about, changed into paying attention to Armenia about what its defence needs were and mentioned Washington desired to assist and aid Armenia in what she solid as a world fight between democracy and autocracy.
"We may still be using our affect, our leverage displaying that Armenian democracy and sovereignty is a priority," Pelosi noted. "The velvet revolution turned into cheered globally."
Armenian top Minister Nikol Pashinyan rose to vigor in 2018 after anti-executive protests known as Armenia's Velvet Revolution.
Pelosi pointed out it became interesting that Armenia changed into disenchanted by way of the response from Russia.
"it is enjoyable that they have been upset they obtained fact finders and never coverage from that relationship and we'll see what occurs subsequent," she talked about.
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Writing by way of man Faulconbridge, modifying by way of William Maclean, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Alex Richardson
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