WASHINGTON (A.W.)—Andrew Schofer was officially named the new United States Co-Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group on Aug. 28.
Outgoing U.S. Co-Chair Richard Hoagland first announced Schofer’s appointment during an on-the-record round table discussion regarding the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh) peace settlement at the Foreign Press Center in Washington on Aug. 23.
Until recently, Schofer served as U.S. Representative to the Vienna Office of the United Nations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and other international organizations in Vienna.
Below is the OSCE’s official announcement of Schofer’s appointment.
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The United States is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Andrew Schofer as the next U.S. Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group for Nagorno-Karabagh. Mr. Schofer brings extensive experience in Europe and International Organizations to the position, and most recently served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. for the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE). From August 2015 until January 2017, he served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at UNVIE. From August 2014 to August 2015, he served as the Counselor for IAEA Affairs at UNVIE. Prior to his assignments in Vienna, Mr. Schofer served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, Cyprus from 2011 to 2014, and has also worked overseas at the U.S. Embassies in Kuwait City, Kuwait; Manama, Bahrain; and Moscow, Russia. Mr. Schofer’s Washington assignments included postings on the Iraq Desk in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, and as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, where he was primarily responsible for the Middle East and Counterterrorism portfolios.
The United States remains firmly committed to the Minsk Group Process and helping the sides reach a lasting and peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. As expressed in the June 19 and July 6 statements, the United States supports a just settlement that must be based on international law, which includes the Helsinki Final Act; in particular, the principles of non-use of force, territorial integrity, and self-determination. Andrew Schofer looks forward to helping the sides achieve this goal.
We have informed the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan of Andrew Schofer’s appointment. Andrew Schofer will assume his new position effective immediately.
Welcome. As a member of the ANCA-CT, our hope is that you will be able to help bring permanent peace.
The OSCE Minsk group is another organisation that is useless as all the other previously appointed representatives. It’s a question of sitting down and talking and getting paid massively without any result in sight. Sad situation indeed. Nobody wins.