OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen told the press that "the end of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is a highly successful example that fosters optimism throughout the entire OSCE region," on Thursday (4 December).
Elina Valtonen reminded that she’s had the opportunity to visit both countries and familiarize myself with the peace process. "We always maintain productive relations with both countries," she stated.
Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen reiterated OSCE’s readiness to provide any support regarding the issues currently being discussed between the parties.
Closure of OSCE Minsk Group
Valtonen also noted that the decision to close the OSCE Minsk Group and its associated structures on 1 September, 2025 was a vital step supporting the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Moreover, she noted that it removed a major obstacle in approving the OSCE budget.
The statement was made at the 32nd Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council on Thursday (4 December) in Vienna, Austria.
The Minsk Group was created in 1992 to mediate the Karabakh conflict, and from 1994 operated under a co-chairmanship of Russia, the United States and France.
It served for decades as the main platform for Armenia–Azerbaijan negotiations but lost relevance after Azerbaijan’s 2020 victory and the restoration of its territorial integrity in September 2023, according to Azerbaijani media.
Baku repeatedly called for its formal closure, and on 8 August, 2025, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a joint appeal in Washington calling for the termination of the Minsk Group.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Türkiye has taken a new technical step to facilitate direct trade with Armenia as part of the ongoing normalisation process between the two countries.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev met a leading representative of German business Monday evening during an official Berlin visit. Talks with Michael Harms, Chairman of the Eastern Committee of the Germany Economy, focused on trade, energy cooperation and transport links between Europe and Asia.
Iran said it has received overtures from regional mediators aimed at de-escalating the ongoing military standoff between Tehran and Washington.
Kazakhstan and Georgia will begin testing a digital permit exchange system for international road freight on 22 July, replacing paper permits with an electronic platform designed to streamline cross-border transport.
Georgia and Azerbaijan have launched a digital system for issuing and exchanging permits for international road freight transport. Georgian carriers can now use electronic permits in Azerbaijan, as they already do in Türkiye.
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