U.S. will increase engagement through the Minsk Group with Russia and France to help Armenia and Azerbaijan find a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon.

Joint efforts with the European Union and other international partners in the region have resulted in progress, he said at the hearings in Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

However, Gordon stressed that “disputes over territory and a need for further meaningful political and economic reforms remain serious obstacles to greater stability.”

“In that regard, we strongly believe that the time has come to finalize and endorse the Basic Principles and move to the drafting of a peace agreement. We believe that the United States and Europe must work together to avoid further conflict in Europe and help the countries in the region move towards democracy, peace, and greater prosperity,” said Assistant Secretary.

Philip Gordon also noted that U.S. encourages normalization between Turkey and Armenia.