Azerbaijan proposed an agreement with Armenia on Sunday as an interim measure before concluding a comprehensive peace treaty following longstanding hostilities between the two nations and Azerbaijan’s offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to a local media report, Hikmet Hajiyev, the assistant to the president of Azerbaijan, said that the country suggested suspending the OSCE Minsk group. He emphasized that it would be only a step towards a future peace treaty but emphasized the need for its conclusion by the UN Climate Change Conference begins in November. Towards this scheme, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US Department of State, showed his appreciation, stating, “We are committed to supporting that process. … the time for peace is now, and we continue to work to try to reach an agreement.”

However, Azerbaijan has published reports regarding alleged violations of the ceasefire with Armenia. The latter then denied Monday them and stressed the importance of following a procedure with the joint mechanism already agreed upon.

Regarding the two countries’ territorial dispute, Armenia, faced opposition in May against its decision to surrender some Azerbaijani territory although the Armenian prime minister explained it as the method to achieve peace with Azerbaijan. On the other hand, in April, Armenia agreed in a state conference to return four villages of Armenia to Azerbaijan, which was desired by the UN Secretary-General.