During the event, the participating States reviewed the outcomes of the Organization’s activities under Malta’s Chairpersonship in 2024, discussed responses to challenges and threats to security across the OSCE area, and explored ways to overcome the institutional crisis facing the Organization amid a complex geopolitical environment.
Photo credit: mfa.kz
Foreign ministers from the 57 participating states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) convened in Malta for the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, according to the Foreign Ministry's press service, The Caspian Post reports citing Kazinform.
During the event, the participating States reviewed the outcomes of the Organization’s activities under Malta’s Chairpersonship in 2024, discussed responses to challenges and threats to security across the OSCE area, and explored ways to overcome the institutional crisis facing the Organization amid a complex geopolitical environment.
In his address to the participants, Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasized the need to revive the “spirit of Helsinki” and underscored the importance of preserving the OSCE as a unique platform for inclusive dialogue on security issues.
He reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s unwavering commitment to multilateral efforts aimed at ensuring peace and stability within the OSCE region and the country’s readiness to continue contributing to the strengthening of the Organization and addressing the challenges it is facing.
Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the OSCE’s foundational document, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister pointed out the relevance of strict adherence to its principles and to the provisions of the Astana Declaration adopted at the 2010 OSCE Summit. He also called on his counterparts to adapt the Organization to the realities of the evolving global security architecture.
The Kazakh Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of cooperation within the economic and environmental dimension. In this regard, he highlighted the outcomes of the “One Water Summit” co-hosted by Kazakhstan, France, and Saudi Arabia on December 3rd in Riyadh.
Minister Nurtleu proposed joining efforts in tackling the climate change and invited the participating States to attend the UN Regional Climate Summit to be held in Kazakhstan in 2026.
A key outcome of the Ministerial Council’s meeting was the approval of the OSCE Secretary General and the heads of the Organization’s key institutions.
On the sidelines of the MC, the Kazakh Foreign Minister Nurtleu held a series of bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov; Belgium, Bernard Quintin; Georgia, Maka Botchorishvili; Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel; Slovakia, Juraj Blanár; Türkiye, Hakan Fidan; and Finland, Elina Valtonen.
The discussions covered pressing issues of bilateral cooperation and collaboration within the OSCE framework. Views were exchanged on regional and global agendas, and agreements were reached to further develop cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Kazakhstan has been an OSCE participating state since 1992. In 2010, Kazakhstan chaired the OSCE, hosting a summit that culminated in the adoption of the Astana Declaration.
