Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 5
By Emin Aliyev - Trend:
The U.S. is encouraged by the resumption of the dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is critical in achieving progress in ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Eric Rubin said on Dec. 5 in Baku.
"As a Minsk Group Co-chair country we will continue to do everything we can to further the chances in achieving settlement, furthermore we will try do everything we can in coming year to help settle the conflict," Rubin said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.