Comment by Minister Tsahkna on the decision of Russia and Belarus to veto Estonia's OSCE Chairmanship
Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
21.11.2023
Comment by Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the decision of Russia and Belarus to veto Estonia's OSCE Chairmanship in 2024.
It is regrettable that due to the veto imposed by Russia and, at their instigation, Belarus today in Vienna, Estonia's candidacy for the Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2024 was not confirmed.
With its actions, Russia is blocking the work of the entire organisation because for years now, Moscow has prevented the organisation from adopting its budget, holding official OSCE events, and extending foreign missions, resulting in the end of all OSCE foreign missions in Ukraine, which has been subjected to Russia's aggression.
Because of Russia and Belarus, we now find ourselves in a situation where a mere six weeks before the new year, the OSCE does not have a confirmed chairmanship, even though Estonia has been the joint candidate of the European Union since 2020.
As Russia is violating all fundamental principles of the OSCE with its bloody war of aggression, it is unacceptable to subject to Moscow's demands and blackmail, including its wish that the next country to hold the OSCE Chairmanship is not a NATO member. At this moment, instead of looking for solutions that would please Moscow, we must isolate Russia in every way on the international arena.
Estonia continues to hold the position that the OSCE must stand resolutely for its fundamental values and concessions to the aggressor should be ruled out.
OSCE grew out of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which has always aimed to advance dialogue between the East and the West. This way, the OSCE has never comprised only like-minded countries. Although the activities of the OSCE have been beset by confrontations from the start, the organisation has never faced a graver crisis than now.
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