Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.8. / Trend , S.Aghayeva /
Azerbaijan is ready to work with the new American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, the Foreign Ministry's Spokesman, Elkhan Polukhov, told Trend on Sept. 8, commenting on the U.S.'s appointment of a new mediator in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution.
"Our position on the fair resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains the same. This conflict must be solved in terms the country's territorial integrity and grant a high status of autonomy to Nagorno-Karabakh and the talks can only be continued in this direction," Polukhov said.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Robert Bradtke, has been appointed the new U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE MG, the U.S. State Department Bureau for Europe and Eurasia told Trend .
"The United States attaches great importance to the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hopes that Bradtke's appointment as ambassador will continue the OSCE MG's peacekeeping policy and efforts," the source in the State Department reported.
Bradtke is a great, experienced diplomat, including in the field of conflict, he said. Bradtke was previously engaged in Balkans issues and U.S. relations with NATO and the OSCE from 2001 to 2004, and, just like former U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE MG, Matthew Bryza, had, he has also served as Deputy Assistant to the U.S. State Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 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 the peace negotiations.