OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza clarified the information on his resignation and new appointment spread by Armenian mass media. US diplomat did not indicate a particular country in South Caucasus he is to be appointed to.

“In my July 25 interview I explicitly said I am anxious to continue working in the South Caucasus. I did not specify my desire to work in any particular country”, said Bryza, adding that some Armenian sources are inaccurate in quoting his words.

“I hope I can continue working in the South Caucasus. I feel personally connected to the people of the region, and wish to do everything in my humble power to help advance peace and prosperity in the region,” the Co-Chair emphasized.

Bryza says he has no desire to resign as the U.S. Minsk Group Co-Chair. “But, I do anticipate that at some point soon, my superiors will ask me to rotate to a new diplomatic position. In the U.S. Foreign Service, we diplomats are allowed to remain in Washington for only 6 straight years. I am about to begin my 13-straight year of being posted to Washington. So, in accordance with the norms of the U.S. Foreign Service, I must soon serve abroad.”

Earlier Yuri Merzlyakov, Bryza’s Russian counterpart, informed Azerbaijani Trend agency about forthcoming radical personnel reshuffle in OSCE Minsk Group. Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov reported he will resign as OSCE MG Co-Chair together with his US counterpart Matthew Bryza. “I hope that being OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair for 7 years, I am allowed to resign,” Merzlyakov said, adding that it will happen this year.