U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel, during a press briefing this Monday, said Washington D.C. looks forward to hosting another round of Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization talks later this month.

Patel said direct Yerevan-Baku dialogue is key to resolving issues and reaching a durable and dignified peace.

“The U.S. is pleased that talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan are proceeding in different venues, including the recent meeting of leaders as well. But I don’t have anything else to offer on that,” Patel told reporters.

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Ararat Mirzoyan said major progress had been made regarding an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty during four-day negotiations held outside Washington one month ago.