“Threat of disintegration”: Russia blocks OSCE’s efforts

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is threatened with crisis and disintegration, stated the head of Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pekka Haavisto — all because of Russia’s and Belarus’s reluctance to agree on Estonia’s chairpersonship in 2024.

All 57 OSCE member states have to approve the new chairman. The order of management of the organization is determined on a rotational basis. Estonia is next, but Russia and Belarus did not approve its candidacy. At the same time, Estonia does not plan to give up the presidency.

“This is a principled position, not only because Estonia is an excellent candidate for the chairmanship, but also because we cannot allow a culture in an international organization in which an aggressor country and a country that commits genocide and deports children begins to dictate who and which country and under what conditions would suit them,” Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, said.

The situation is serious, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland. In addition, Pekka Haavisto fears that the OSCE may fall apart before Finland takes over the chairmanship in 2025.

“If there is no chairman in 2024 and there is no consensus on this issue, the next year will be the year of the OSCE’s destruction as an organization,” the Finnish minister said.

Estonia seeks to find consensus and continue the functioning of the organization. However, there were no signals from Russia to start a dialogue. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Aleksandr Grushko, does not see any threats to the activities of the organization in the actions of the Russian Federation and stated that “if the OSCE disintegrates, it will be due to other reasons.”

The main task of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is to prevent conflicts, monitor elections and the status of peace. Currently, it is the only platform that unites Russia, the USA, and Ukraine.