Azerbaijan, Baku, March 4 / Trend, E.Tariverdiyeva/
The U.S. will continue to promote the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, U.S. President Barack Obama said in his congratulatory letter addressed to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in connection with his re-election, Armenian President's website reported on Monday.
"We will continue to promote the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is necessary to take a substantial step towards the settlement, which will ensure long-term peace and security," the letter says.
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 four U.N. Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.