Azernews.Az

The U.S. is looking forward to the appointment of a new permanent co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group from the country, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Richard Morningstar told reporters on July 3.

"It will happen, but I can not tell you a concrete time. There are many candidates for the post of co-chairman from the United States. But I can not provide accurate information about them," Morningstar said.

Currently, temporary representative Ian Kelly skilfully handles the job, Morningstar concluded.

Ambassador Ian Kelly was named as the U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group on an interim basis on Dec. 21 2012, pending the appointment of a new permanent co-chair.

Earlier in December Ambassador Robert Bradtke finished his term as the U.S. OSCE Minsk Group co-chair.

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 four U.N. Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.