OSCE thanks Azerbaijan and Armenia for Minsk Group closure

The decision to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group has become "crucial" in advancing the peace process between Baku and Yerevan, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.

The official stressed he has observed positive progress in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"In August, we reached a consensus to dissolve the Minsk Group structures, marking a crucial step in advancing the peace process and eliminating a significant impediment to the adoption of the OSCE budget," Valtonen said.

On September 1, the OSCE Minsk Group was formally closed. Now all decisions previously adopted within the OSCE framework in relation to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict are invalid and not applicable. On December 1, the OSCE officially terminated the Minsk process and disbanded its associated structures.