June 6, 2006 - 16:31 AMT
Replacement of OSCE MG US Co-Chair Taken Ambiguously by Moscow
US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group being appointed to another office in the heat of Karabakh talks was taken ambiguously by Moscow. Russian temporary Chargé d'Affaires in Azerbaijan Peter Burdykin regretted over Mann's appointment to another office. In the Russian diplomat's words, Mann «defended interests of the US and is an expert on matters of Azerbaijan and Armenia. A replacement like that at the moment of Armenian and Azeri Presidents' meeting is not a very good step.» We remind that OSCE MG US co-chair, State Department Special Representative for Eurasian Conflicts Steven Mann is appointed Deputy Assistant State Secretary for Central and South Asia, reports Day.az.