Germany became the chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in difficult times, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said, TASS reported.

“The terrorist attack in Istanbul, the Middle East crisis and the conflict in the east of Ukraine show that Germany has taken over the chairmanship of the OSCE in difficult times”, – he said.

“Germany will participate in the solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as OSCE Chairman”, – he added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council’s four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.