Azernews.Az

BAKU – US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Robert Bradtke has said that the mediators "have new ideas" on the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

"Last week we familiarized Baku and Yerevan with these ideas," he was quoted by the BBC as saying.

He also said the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers will meet in New York next week.

Bradtke said the co-chairs will also arrive in Washington for consultations.

"Talks will be held with US officials. We will then leave for New York to meet with the parties."

Bradtke said that afterwards the mediators will once again visit the region in late September or early October.

He also expressed his expectations concerning progress in the conflict settlement during the OSCE summit scheduled for December in Astana.

"I think the summit will be an important event," he said. "The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents will sit at one table together with presidents from Europe and North America. Undoubtedly, the differences in the sides’ positions directly involved in the conflict will come into focus. They will have to inform the world about their plans on how to move the peace process forward."

Bradtke added that "certain progress may be achieved" in New York.

"During our last visit to the region, we informed the sides about the possibility of reaching agreement on certain issues. We will discuss these issues once again in New York. We expect constructive steps from the sides in terms of advancing the peace process at this stage."

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries was sparked in 1988 by Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan and its launching military offensives.

Armenia has been occupying over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory since the early 1990s. The ceasefire accord was signed in 1994, but efforts by the international mediators have been largely fruitless so far, and sporadic clashes on the frontline continue.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions demanding unconditional liberation of the occupied territories.