“OSCE in crisis: Estonia’s candidacy for presiding country rejected by Russia and Belarus”

The rules of the organization provide that the presiding country is chosen by rotation with the support of all 57 OSCE member states, however, Russia and Belarus have not approved Estonia’s candidacy for the status of the presiding country next year.

At the same time, Estonia is not ready to withdraw its candidacy.

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto warned that the organization could collapse if the crisis is not resolved. “If there is no presiding country in 2024 and there is no consensus on this issue, next year will become the year when the OSCE as an organization collapses,” he said.

He described the current situation as serious and expressed concern that the OSCE may collapse before Finland takes over the presidency of the organization in 2025.

This year, the OSCE presiding country is North Macedonia.

The OSCE was founded in 1975 – at the height of the Cold War – to promote relations between the Western and Eastern blocs. Currently, the organization has 57 member states, including NATO countries and Moscow’s allies.