OSCE Chairperson-in-Office:The Minsk Group will  no longer exist by  December 1

ArmInfo. The OSCE Minsk Group, the only international format for resolving the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, will cease to exist by December 1 of this  year, as stated by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign  Minister Elina Valtonen, during a joint press conference with  Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on October 14 in Yerevan.

Valtonen expressed her full support for the normalization of  relations between Yerevan and Baku and emphasized the crucial steps  taken by the parties on August 8 in Washington, noting Armenia's  continued commitment to the peace agenda, despite the various  challenges and obstacles that arise. The diplomat also welcomed the  joint statement by Yerevan and Baku on the termination of the Minsk  format. "We hope that the closure procedures will be completed by  December 1. At the same time, the OSCE is ready to continue  cooperation with Armenia in several areas. It is crucial to  strengthen this peace process to make these promising steps toward  normalizing relations permanent, so that peace in this region can be  stable. This is the message we are sending to all parties," the  Minister noted, adding that the OSCE is ready to support Armenia's  efforts in this process.

Additionally, the diplomat noted that during the visit, she was  pleased to see the authorities' open approach to working with civil  society, which is the foundation of democracy.

When asked about Armenia's further engagement with the OSCE following  the dissolution of the Minsk Group, Valtonen stated that the  Organization is ready to promote peace, and the cooperation will  henceforth focus on economic, environmental, and climate issues.

In turn, the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry noted that the  visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office is taking place under new  circumstances and in the context of significant events for the  region, particularly the establishment of peace following the  Washington summit on August 8. Mirzoyan reported that he has  presented his Finnish counterpart with details regarding the  initialing of the peace document with Azerbaijan and the unblocking  of communications. He highlighted the OSCE's role in establishing  peace and emphasized the need for new dimensions and horizons of  cooperation.. "For its part, Armenia is highly interested in economic  cooperation and environmental issues. Yerevan is also confident that  the OSCE, and under both current and future chairmanships, will work  towards peace not only in the South Caucasus, but across the entire  OSCE area," the official stated, adding that Yerevan wants to see the  OSCE as a strong and effective organization, as in the current  geopolitical situation, it requires the support of countries in the  spirit of the Helsinki Final Act.