In an interview to the Voice of America, the Deputy Department Spokesman Mark Toner stated that the official Washington does not support any of the parties in the NKR issue settlement and highly assesses and supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk group. Toner refuted the accusations voiced by the Azerbaijani side and said that as a co-chairing country, the U.S. is trying to reach an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Recall in the recent period, different Azerbaijani officials blame the U.S. of partiality and of supporting Armenia politically and economically. Toner said the U.S. actively supported the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the NKR conflict and remain impartial, seeking efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully. In the meantime Toner stated that the US doesn’t recognize the independence of the Nagorno-Karabakh. Asked about Turkey’s role in the NKR conflict, Toner said that Ankara places a constructive role in the region. "We have two objectives: to achieve normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia on the one hand, and Armenia and Azerbaijan on the other", – said Toner. He also added that the US supports the process of normalization of the Armenia-Turkey relations. “Turkey is a powerful ally and the US partner in the region,” he said.
