The United States maintains direct ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia for normalization of relations between the two countries, US Ambassador to Baku Lee Litzenberger said, local presses report.

“It was nice to see the announcement about the meeting. The United States is making persistent efforts for the leaders to meet tête-à-tête. I hope this meeting becomes a step forward for the establishment of normal relations between the countries,” Litzenberger said, commenting on the upcoming meeting of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan to be held on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels on Dec. 15.