New OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair from United States Appointed

Washington / 24.08.17 / Turan: Andrew Schaefer will be the new Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group from the US. This was reported by the current American Co-chair Richard Hoagland, speaking at a roundtable in the House of Press in Washington.

As the Voice of America reported, Hoagland said Schaefer would start the duties from Monday, August 28. He said he is very pleased to report that on Monday, Andrew Schaefer will become Co-chair. According to Hoagland, he is a very experienced high-ranking diplomat who was an attorney in US affairs in international organizations. He also said the position of the current US administration on this issue remains unchanged, regardless of the change of the Co-chair.

He also stressed Schaefer has real experience in the settlement of Cyprus and other conflicts. He thinks the State Department has chosen a brilliant Co-chair.

Further, he touched on the ways of settling the Karabakh conflict, noting that the future peace should be based on several elements: the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region should receive a temporary status for ensuring security and self-government, the occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh should be returned to Azerbaijan, a safe corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia through Lachin should be created, all refugees should be able to return to their homes, and peacekeeping forces from third countries should be introduced into the region. -02D-