Azernews.Az

Ambassador Robert Bradtke has finished his term as the U.S. OSCE Minsk Group co-chair last week, the press-service of the U.S. embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend news agency on Sunday.

Ambassador Ian Kelly was named as U.S.co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group on an interim basis on Friday, December 21, pending the appointment of a new permanent co-chair, the report says.

The Department of State is grateful to Ambassador Bradtke for over three years of service as the U.S. co-chair.

"The United States remains fully committed to its role as U.S. co-chair and to helping the sides to find a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the report said.

OSCE Minsk Group other co-chairs are Igor Popov of Russia and Jacques Faure of 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 percent 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 are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions regarding the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.