Richard E. Hoagland, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, likened diplomatic affairs to personal and family relations. 

"In a family, sometimes everthing is very, very smooth and very normal, and sometimes there are problems,” he said. "What is important is that both sides come together in good faith and mutual respect and work on those problems. I think that is under way right now.”

Hoagland said he met with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov earlier in the day to discuss ties.