The remarks came after the adoption of a resolution on the “recognition” of the fictitious regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by the Senate of the Minnesota state.

“US policy has not changed. The United States does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent and sovereign state. As a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group, the United States remains strongly committed to helping the sides achieve a lasting peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that is based on Helsinki Final Act principles of non-use or threat of force, territorial integrity, and equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and will remain fully engaged in the efforts of the Minsk Group to achieve this goal,” said the State Department.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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