US ambassador hopes for progress in Karabakh resolution

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh will discuss in the region their ideas how to get progress in the long-standing conflict resolution and make the process move forward, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told journalists on Tuesday.

"Minsk Group has always been active, but it particularly was active over the past few weeks," Morningstar said. "So we will see what happens and hopefully progress will be made."

The co-chairs of the Minsk Group will visit the region in late November, the OSCE website 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 per cent 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 on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.