The U.S. State Department issued the following statement on December 7 regarding the announcement that Armenia and Azerbaijan will release detainees as a step to finalize a peace deal.

The United States welcomes the announcement by Armenia and Azerbaijan of the release of two Azerbaijani and thirty-two Armenian detainees. This commitment represents an important confidence building measure as the sides work to finalize a peace agreement and normalize relations. We commend Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan for their joint efforts to lay the groundwork for a more peaceful and prosperous future for the people of the South Caucasus.

The United States will continue to strongly support efforts to reach a durable and dignified peace.

Photo: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, left, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, right, at the 2020 Munich Security Conference. Feb. 15, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Press Office of the Government of Armenia.