OSCE Minsk Group planned to be dissolved by December, Russia says

Russia supports the joint decision of Azerbaijan and Armenia to dissolve the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, which was engaged in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This was stated to RBC by the permanent representative of Russia to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, detailing that the Minsk Group is planned to be dissolved once and for all by December.

According to Lukashevich, this refers to the termination of the work of three OSCE institutions: the Minsk Group, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, and the High-Level Planning Group.

“Given the position of the parties on the inexpediency of their maintenance, we see no reason to prevent their dissolution,” the Russian diplomat said.

As per Lukashevich, the procedure for dissolving the Minsk Group is as follows: The OSCE Permanent Council—the organization’s principal decision-making body for regular political consultations —has proposed that the OSCE members “tacitly agree” to approve the ministerial decision on this issue. And if no one opposes the dissolution of the Minsk Group by September 1, the decision will be considered adopted.

“It is important to take into account that the implementation of administrative and financial measures related to the implementation of this decision will take several months. The OSCE plans to complete them no later than December of this year. After that, all three structures that were responsible for contributing to the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh shall cease to exist,” said the permanent representative of Russia to the OSCE.