U.S. Secretary of State's chief adviser in the Caucasus negotiations and U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Philip Rieker, will visit Yerevan.

Rieker stated that the U.S. supports direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan and urged that this momentum be maintained in the coming year. According to him U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes in the possibility of peace and the potential of the South Caucasus and asked Rieker to visit the region this week.

The peace process is not easy because the conflict has plagued the parties for years, he said.

Rieker believes there is, however, hope for a peaceful future. believes that there is still hope for a peaceful future. He expressed hope that the momentum of the peace talks would be maintained. Rieker said he saw real, courageous steps by both countries capable of building a lasting peace.