OSCE officially announces closing of  Minsk Group mandated to resolve  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

ArmInfo.  The OSCE has officially announced the official closing of the Minsk Group mandated to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The organization's  press release says that the OSCE  Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Finaland Elina Valtonen,  and OSCE Secretary General Feridun H.  Sinirlioglu welcome the  adoption of a Ministerial Council decision  closing the Minsk process  and related structures following a Joint Appeal from Armenia and  Azerbaijan.

"I would like to once again extend my warmest congratulations to  Armenia and Azerbaijan on their historic agreements towards peace and  normalization of relations and their resolute decision to start their  prompt implementation. I have responded without delay to their Joint  Appeal and would like to express my sincere appreciation to the  parties for their excellent co-operation in the process. I also would  like to commend participating States for their collaborative spirit  in achieving this consensus," said Minister Valtonen.  This  Ministerial Council decision follows the 8 August Joint Declaration  signed in Washington D.C by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan  and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and witnessed by U.S.  President Donald J. Trump. The Ministerial Council decision was  adopted by consensus of all 57 OSCE participating States.

"This is a historic development that underlines what diplomacy can  achieve, even after decades of conflict and mistrust. It demonstrates  that agreement remains possible when there is a shared determination  between parties to find common ground," said Secretary General  Sinirlioglu.

The OSCE Chairperson-in Office and OSCE Secretary General reaffirmed  their unwavering commitment to supporting efforts that bring lasting  peace and stability to Armenia, Azerbaijan and the wider region.   Following the adoption of this decision, the OSCE will take steps to  implement the closure of the Minsk Process and its related  structures. Only administrative functions, such as the handover of  assets and equipment, will continue until the process is completed no  later than 1 December 2025."