The State Department announced Aliyev's readiness to stop fighting in Karabakh

Aliyev, in a conversation with Blinker, expressed readiness to stop fighting in Karabakh

Aliyev, in a conversation with Blinken, expressed readiness for the cessation of hostilities and negotiations with the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, the State Department reports. They said in Azerbaijan that they would negotiate if the Karabakh forces laid down their arms

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in a conversation with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, expressed readiness to stop military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh and hold a meeting between representatives of Baku and the population of the unrecognized republic. Blinken called for immediate implementation of this, the State Department said in a press release.

"The Secretary of State stressed that there is no military solution and that the parties should resume dialogue to resolve the remaining differences between Baku and ethnic Armenians in Nagorno—Karabakh," the publication says.

Blinken also spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, stressing that the United States calls on Azerbaijan to immediately cease hostilities and return to dialogue. He noted that the United States fully supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Armenia.

Azerbaijan launched an "anti-terrorist" operation in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19, explaining that Armenia has been building up military power in the region in recent months and shelling Azerbaijani positions. The country's Defense Ministry stressed that it is firing only at the positions of the Armenian forces.

By the evening, the Azerbaijani military occupied more than 60 positions of the Armenian troops, the defense ministry reported. Hikmet Hajiyev, adviser to the President of Azerbaijan on foreign policy, said that Baku is ready for negotiations with the Armenians of Karabakh, but only if they agree to disarmament and surrender.

According to the Ombudsman of Nagorno-Karabakh Geghan Stepanyan, 27 people were killed in the region, two of them civilians. The number of wounded exceeded 200. More than 7 thousand people were evacuated from Karabakh, he added.

Yerevan has denied the presence of its military on the territory of Karabakh. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia does not participate in hostilities. Against the background of the Prime Minister's statements, protests broke out in Armenia, protesters demand his resignation.

The authorities of Nagorno-Karabakh have appealed to Azerbaijan with a proposal to stop the fire and start negotiations. Russia and the European Union have called for a cessation of hostilities. France has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.