YEREVAN. Sept 25 (Interfax) - The ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh continues, Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a meeting with United States Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim and the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power.
"You are aware that, unfortunately, the process of ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Karabakh continues, is happening right now. It is a very tragic fact. We tried to let the international community know that there would be ethnic cleansing, but unfortunately, we failed to prevent it," Pashinyan was quoted by his press service as saying.
Regional tensions continue rising, he said.
"Right now it is very important to take concrete steps to prevent further escalation and even bigger problems," Pashinyan said.
For her part, Power said the U.S. president commanded a delegation to express U.S. support for Armenia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and democracy.
The delegates will have a reason for another visit to discuss steps aimed at strengthening Armenian democracy, but today's focus is on a specific crisis, the humanitarian needs of the people in Nagorno-Karabakh, those who fled it, she said.
The U.S. will continue working with Armenia and Azerbaijan for the attainment of a lasting peace, given the deep economic gain and stability it would provide for Armenian people, she said.
Power also handed Pashinyan a letter from U.S. President Joe Biden.