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ROBERT BRADTKE APPOINTED NEW U.S. COCHAIRMAN OF OSCE MINSK GROUP
ARKA
September 8, 2009
Yerevan
Robert Bradtke, former Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy to Croatia,
has been appointed the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.
The Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe mediates the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Its co-chairs are the United States, Russia and France.
According to the U.S. State Department, Bradtke completed his
three-year assignment in Zagreb in July and has a huge experience of
diplomatic work, as well as possessing extensive knowledge of European
security policy.
In August, there were reports that U.S. diplomat Matthew Bryza, who
co-chaired the Minsk Group at the time, could be replaced by Tina S.
Kaidanow, a former U.S. ambassador to Kosovo.
The statement said Ambassador Bradtke brings to this position more
than thirty-six years of Foreign Service experience and extensive
expertise in European security policy. In July of this year, he
completed a three year assignment as Chief of Mission at American
Embassy Zagreb, Croatia. Prior to that, he served from 2001 to 2004 as
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs,
with responsibility for NATO and the OSCE.
"The United States understands the critical importance of achieving
a peaceful resolution20to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We welcome
recent positive dialogues between President Sargsyan of Armenia and
President Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Secretary Clinton has indicated to
the two presidents her strong interest in the Minsk Group's ongoing
efforts to bring the process to a fruitful conclusion, and the Obama
Administration is committed to doing everything possible to support
this goal. We have informed the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan
of Ambassador Bradtke's appointment.
Ambassador Bradtke looks forward to his first trip to the region in
the coming weeks,' the statement said.
The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in 1988 after the
predominantly Armenian-populated enclave declared about secession
from Azerbaijan As Azerbaijan declared its independence from the
Soviet Union and removed the powers held by the enclave's government,
the Armenian majority voted in 1991, December 10, to secede from
Azerbaijan and in the process proclaimed the enclave the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Full-scale fighting, initiated by Azerbaijan, erupted in the late
winter of 1992. International mediation by several groups including
Europe's OSCE's failed to bring an end resolution that both sides
could work with. In the spring of 1993, Armenian forces captured
regions outside the enclave itself. By the end of the war in 1994,
the Armenians were in full control of most of the enclave and also
held and currently control seven re gions beyond the administrative
borders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Almost 1 million people on both sides have been displaced as a result
of the conflict. A Russian- -brokered ceasefire was signed in May
1994 and peace talks, mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, have been
held ever since by Armenia and Azerbaijan.
ARKA
September 8, 2009
Yerevan
Robert Bradtke, former Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy to Croatia,
has been appointed the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group,
the U.S. Department of State said in a statement.
The Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe mediates the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Its co-chairs are the United States, Russia and France.
According to the U.S. State Department, Bradtke completed his
three-year assignment in Zagreb in July and has a huge experience of
diplomatic work, as well as possessing extensive knowledge of European
security policy.
In August, there were reports that U.S. diplomat Matthew Bryza, who
co-chaired the Minsk Group at the time, could be replaced by Tina S.
Kaidanow, a former U.S. ambassador to Kosovo.
The statement said Ambassador Bradtke brings to this position more
than thirty-six years of Foreign Service experience and extensive
expertise in European security policy. In July of this year, he
completed a three year assignment as Chief of Mission at American
Embassy Zagreb, Croatia. Prior to that, he served from 2001 to 2004 as
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs,
with responsibility for NATO and the OSCE.
"The United States understands the critical importance of achieving
a peaceful resolution20to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We welcome
recent positive dialogues between President Sargsyan of Armenia and
President Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Secretary Clinton has indicated to
the two presidents her strong interest in the Minsk Group's ongoing
efforts to bring the process to a fruitful conclusion, and the Obama
Administration is committed to doing everything possible to support
this goal. We have informed the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan
of Ambassador Bradtke's appointment.
Ambassador Bradtke looks forward to his first trip to the region in
the coming weeks,' the statement said.
The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in 1988 after the
predominantly Armenian-populated enclave declared about secession
from Azerbaijan As Azerbaijan declared its independence from the
Soviet Union and removed the powers held by the enclave's government,
the Armenian majority voted in 1991, December 10, to secede from
Azerbaijan and in the process proclaimed the enclave the Republic
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Full-scale fighting, initiated by Azerbaijan, erupted in the late
winter of 1992. International mediation by several groups including
Europe's OSCE's failed to bring an end resolution that both sides
could work with. In the spring of 1993, Armenian forces captured
regions outside the enclave itself. By the end of the war in 1994,
the Armenians were in full control of most of the enclave and also
held and currently control seven re gions beyond the administrative
borders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Almost 1 million people on both sides have been displaced as a result
of the conflict. A Russian- -brokered ceasefire was signed in May
1994 and peace talks, mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, have been
held ever since by Armenia and Azerbaijan.