Yerevan /Mediamax/.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov outlined on January 19 Azerbaijan’s priorities as Chairman of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation.

The Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation rotates three times a year. Azerbaijan last chaired the FSC in 2005.

According to OSCE press service, Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that unconditional respect for the fundamental norms, principles and commitments enshrined in core OSCE documents, starting from the Helsinki Final Act, in particular respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of States, remain the basis for co-operation both within the OSCE.  

“Azerbaijan remains unwavering in its unequivocal support to these principles and proceeds from an understanding that it should be our common highest endeavour to uphold these principles and ensure strict compliance with them,” Bayramov said.

Pointing to the nexus between compliance with fundamental OSCE principles and politico-military commitments, Azerbaijani minister highlighted that the implementation of these commitments in good faith could contribute substantially to peace, security and stability in the OSCE region only if accompanied by unconditional respect for the aforementioned fundamental principles and commitments.

“Only such an approach by participating States could restore trust and confidence among them, reinvigorate the application of politico-military instruments, enhance predictability and transparency, avoid threat multiplication effects,” Bayramov underlined.

He noted that Azerbaijan’s FSC Chairmanship programme will cover important and timely topics such as compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians; the role of non-aligned countries in the European security architecture; countering terrorism; arms control; post-conflict rehabilitation and peace building.

Bayramov also touched upon a security dialogue that will be dedicated to the role of non-aligned countries, including Azerbaijan, in the European security architecture.

“Azerbaijan has always regarded the OSCE as a major pillar of the pan-European security architecture and valued the Organization’s role as indispensable for the realization of the vision for Europe without dividing lines and zones of influence. Amidst the continuing erosion of multilateralism and growing rivalry among politico-military blocks, the indivisibility of security underpinned in fundamental OSCE documents needs to be upheld,” Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized.

He said another security dialogue will be dedicated to post-conflict rehabilitation and peace-building, drawing on lessons from across the region.