Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.8. / Trend E.Tariverdiyeva /
The newly appointed U.S. Co-Chairman of the OSCE MG, Robert Bradtke, is a great, experienced diplomat, said Bradtke's predecessor, Matthew Bryza.
"I can only say that Ambassador Bradtke is a super diplomat and a good friend," Bryza told Trend over the phone.
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 .
Bradtke was previously been 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.
Bryza wished Bradtke great success in his diplomatic mission.
The Azerbaijan and Armenian governments have already been informed about Bradtke's appointment. The ambassador is currently getting familiarized with the new position and intends to visit the region in the coming week, the U.S State Department press-secretary 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 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.