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.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last m...
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" swee...
Russia’s fuel shortages are spreading into Central Asia, exposing the region’s heavy reliance on Russian petrol and diesel as governments race to ...
Georgia has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), formally taking over on 22 April in Vienna and placing it at the centre of key security discussions at a time of rising geopolitical tension and declining trust between states.
The treatment of some detainees in Georgia “has arguably reached the threshold of torture”, a probe into the country’s human rights situation backed by 23 OSCE members has found.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
The 32nd Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial meeting in Vienna exposed a sharp divergence between governance priorities in Brussels and Tbilisi.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increasing public health threat across the region.
This is the third of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered Pakistan's economic growth forecast for FY2027 to 3.7%, down from its April 2026 projection of 4.5%.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday that his recent talks with U.S. President Donald Trump would likely produce a “positive outcome” for Türkiye’s defence sector.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment