Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.30 / Trend M.Aliyev /
Azerbaijan expects the new U.S. ambassador to make efforts to strengthen the role of Washington to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
"Azerbaijan expects new ambassador, Matthew Bryza, to enhance the U.S.'s role as one of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Ali Akhmadov, deputy chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party told the media.
President Obama appointed Matthew Bryza as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Akhmadov said that at present, the priority for the Azerbaijani people is to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict fairly.
"The U.S. is a co-chairing country of the OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Until now, the Minsk Group has yet to achieve results to satisfy Azerbaijan. The conflict remains unresolved. Naturally, some responsibility lies with the U.S.," he said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces 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 with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, comprising Russia, France, and the U.S., currently engaged in peace negotiations.
Armenia has yet to implement the U.N. Security Council's 4 resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions.