On August 9, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan received U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Director Demian Murphy and Policy Director Sarah Arkin, who are in Armenia on the instructions of Committee Chairman Robert Menendez.

During the meeting, the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is deteriorating day by day as a result of the illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan, was discussed. The imperative to immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor under the decisions of the International Court of Justice on February 22 and July 6 was emphasized.

Paruyr Hovhannisyan stressed the need for international partners to take concrete steps to prevent ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan.

The steps taken by Armenia to establish security, stability and peace in the region were touched upon.

The parties also discussed issues related to the continuous expansion, deepening and development of Armenian-American relations based on shared values.