The current co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Robert Bradtke from the United States will soon quit the post, News.am reports with reference to a source in diplomatic circles.
Bradtke was appointed as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group in September 2009, succeeding Matthew Bryza. It is not reported yet, where Bradtke will be appointed in the future. In all likelihood, this will be any diplomatic post abroad or directly to the State Department.
Also it is not reported who will replace Robert Bradtke as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair from the U.S.
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs are Igor Popov (Russia) and Jacques Faure (France).
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20% 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 regarding the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.