In an ensuing statement on the call, the U.S. State Department spokeswoman, Tammy Bruce, said the two men discussed “shared interests as strategic partners.”
“The Secretary welcomed the agreement on a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and underlined the importance of a lasting peace to break the cycle of regional conflict and bring security and prosperity to the South Caucasus,” she said. “The Secretary and Prime Minister agreed that escalation of any form in the South Caucasus is unacceptable.”
Pashinian and Rubio spoke amid what many in Armenia see as an increased risk of an Azerbaijani attack. Throughout last week the Azerbaijani military accused Armenian forces of violating the ceasefire at various sections of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Armenian side denied the accusations. Local commentators suggested that Baku may thus be preparing the ground for military action against Armenia or trying to clinch more Armenian concessions.
Although Baku apparently stopped alleging Armenian ceasefire violations at the weekend, residents of two Armenian border villages said earlier on Tuesday that there has been intense automatic gunfire from nearby Azerbaijani army positions in recent days. The Defense Ministry in Yerevan reported, meanwhile, that “gunshots are sometimes recorded along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.”
Rubio already praised the two South Caucasus nations on March 14 the day after they announced that they have bridged their remaining differences on the text of the draft Armenian-Azerbaijani treaty.
According to Pashinian’s office, the Armenian premier briefed Rubio on the “negotiation processes” which resulted in that announcement. And he again said that the finalized peace deal is “awaiting signing.”
Baku continues to make that conditional on a change of Armenia’s constitution which it says contains territorial claims to Azerbaijan. It has also set a number of other conditions for peace.
