The Trump administration this week kicked off fresh conversations with NATO ally Turkey, with focus on bilateral and regional issues, including the peace in the South Caucasus, Turan news agency's Washington correspondent reports.

On Wednesday, just a day after taking on the job as the top US diplomat, Marco Rubio spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to "reaffirm the importance of U.S.-Türkiye relations, Türkiye's role as a key NATO Ally, and our shared interests in the region," the US State Department said Thursday evening. Also, Rubio expressed his deepest condolences for the lives lost and those injured in the tragic hotel fire in Bolu, Turkey.

"The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed the importance of a durable and dignified peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan," US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce noted in a readout of the call. No further details were provided about the discussion.

In the meantime, Turan's correspondent reports that Sedat Onal, Turkish Ambassador to the US, is slated to meet this afternoon with Lou Bono, who until last week served as the Biden administration's Senior Advisor for Caucasus negotiations.

Bono has been promoted by the Trump administration to serve as the Senior Official, currently leading the State Department's Bureau for Europe and Eurasia.