International organisations
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
The OSCE is one of the largest regional political organizations dealing with the security issues. As of today it encompasses 57 participating states from Europe, Central Asia and North America.
OSCE approaches to security are multidimensional and comprehensive. The activity of the organization proceeds in 3 dimensions, so-called "baskets" - politico-military/security, economic-environmental and human, which are the pillars of the OSCE comprehensive and indivisible security concept.
From this perspective, the respect and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as cooperation in the fields of economic and environmental protection, are important for the establishment of security, peace and stability, and can have both a preventive function and contribute to the solution of military-political problems. Early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation are among the priorities of the Organization. Decisions of the OSCE have politically binding character and are adopted by the rule of consensus.
The OSCE decision-making bodies are:
- Summit
- Ministerial Council
- Permanent Council
- Forum for Security Co-operation
In order to lead, coordinate and execute all other duties necessary for the management of the Organization, The OSCE is chaired by a participating country for one year. In 2025 Finland will assume the Chairmanship of the OSCE. It is supported by the former and next Chairmanships, which together with the chairing country form an OSCE Troika. The OSCE Secretariat provides operational support to the Organization; it assists the CiO and the participating States in their activities. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General and located in Vienna.
The OSCE institutions are:
- Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
- High Commissioner on National Minorities
- Representative on Freedom of the Media
The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE is the platform of inter-parliamentary relations and cooperation.
In the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE Armenia is represented by the parliamentary delegation of the National Assembly.
The OSCE has established a web of field missions with the aim of organizing its activities more efficiently and better coordinating with the participating States, as well as for raising awareness on the goals and principles of the Organization.
The negotiation process on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (Russia, USA, France).
In 1995, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office appointed a Personal Representative of the CiO with the mandate to represent the OSCE Chairmanship in issues related to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Armenia - OSCE Cooperation
Armenia has acceded to the OSCE since January 30, 1992.
Since 21 November 2024 the head of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE is Andranik Hovhannisyan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the Republic of Austria.
On 31 August 2017 the OSCE Office in Yerevan discontinued its operations after Azerbaijan vetoed the decision on the extension of its mandate. After the closure of the OSCE Yerevan Office, as a result of the negotiations between the Armenia and the OSCE Secretariat, an agreement was reached to continue the programmatic cooperation with the Organization.
It entails number of projects across all three dimensions: military-political, economic-environmental and human dimensions.
Main Documents:
- Helsinki Final Act - 1975
- Charter of Paris for New Europe - 1990
- Helsinki Document - 1992
- Budapest Summit Document - 1994
- Charter for European Security - 1999
- Astana Commemorative Declaration – 2010
04.12 - 05.12.2024 - Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council in Malta, within the framework of which he held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Austria, Slovenia, Slovakia, Georgia and Kazakhstan, as well as with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaya Kalas and the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. Minister Mirzoyan also held contacts with colleagues from a number of countries, including Germany, Turkey, Luxembourg, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Andorra and Cyprus. Within the framework of the current Swedish presidency, for the first time, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also met with foreign ministers and representatives of the Nordic-Baltic countries (NB8), followed by joint press release.
23.09.2024 - In New York, within the framework of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Ian Borg, OSCE Chairman-in-office, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Trade of Malta.
13.05.2024 - Working visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Affairs of Malta Borg to Armenia.
03.05.2024 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Ian Borg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta.
02.03.2024 - On the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Helga Schmid, the OSCE Secretary General.
16.02.2024 - On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Ian Borg, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta.
01.12.2023 - In Skopje, on the sidelines of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Pia Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
01.12.2023 - In Skopje, on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Helga Maria Schmid, the OSCE Secretary General.
30.11 – 01.12.2023 - Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, North Macedonia.
18.11.2023 - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.
18.11.2023 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Autumn session took Place in Yerevan.
17.11.2023 - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pia Kauma.
20.09.2023 - А special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council was convened at the initiative of the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the OSCE. Permanent Representative of Armenia to the OSCE, Ambassador Armen Papikyan delivered remarks.
19.09.2023 - In New York, within the framework of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Bujar Osmani, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia.
18.09.2023 - In New York, within the framework of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Helga Maria Schmid, the OSCE Secretary General.
12.09.2023 - Vahe Gevorgyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, participated and delivered remarks at the OSCE Special Permanent Council meeting in Vienna convened at the initiative of Armenia.
10.08.2023 -Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani.
20.07.2023 - In Vienna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the OSCE Special Permanent Council meeting which was convened at the request of Armenia.
18.07.2023 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan in Vienna had a meeting with Helga Maria Schmid, the OSCE Secretary General.
08.07.2023 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan in Croatia had a meeting with Bujar Osmani, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of North Macedonia.
13.04.2023 – Visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani to Armenia.
17.02.2023 - The meeting of Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid took place in Munich.
17.01.2023 – In Vienna Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with Helga Maria Schmid, the OSCE Secretary General.
17.01.2023 - Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan delivered remarks at the special session of the OSCE Permanent Council initiated by Armenia.
10.01.2023 – Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Bujar Osmani, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia.
01.12.2022 - The 29th OSCE Ministerial Council was held in Łódź city, Poland, where Ararat Mirzoyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia participated and delivered remarks. Meetings were held with Zbigniew Rau, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and the Foreign Minister of Poland and Helga Maria Schmid, the OSCE Secretary General.
22.10.2022 - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the OSCE needs assessment mission, headed by the representative of Poland, the chairing country in the OSCE, Colonel Robert Arkadiusz Tkaczyk. The decision to send an OSCE needs assessment mission to the Republic of Armenia based on Armenia's appeal was made by the OSCE Chairmanship and the Secretariat, taking into account the relevant decisions of the OSCE Ministerial Council.
19.09.2022 - Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with the Secretary General of the OSCE Helga Maria Schmid in New York.
13.09.2022 - Armen Papikyan, the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the OSCE, delivered remarks at the special session of the OSCE Permanent Council convened upon the initiative of Armenia.
16.06.2022 – Visit of the delegation led by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Cederfelt.
01.04.2022 – Visit of the delegation led by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau.
11.03.2022 - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro.
17.12.2021 - An online forum was organized by the OSCE Swedish Presidency, dedicated to the consequences of the second Artsakh war and the role of the OSCE in the political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
02.12.2021 - Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan participated in the 28th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Stockholm. Minister Mirzoyan held meetings with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.
05.10.2021 - Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Anikka Söder.
24.09.2021 - Within the framework of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with Ann Linde, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.
02.09.2021 - Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan held a phone conversation with the OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.
13.05.2021 - Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ara Aivazian held a phone conversation with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde.
25.03.2021 - Armenia assumed the four-month chairmanship of the OSCE Security Cooperation Forum (FSC).
16.03.2021 – Visit of the delegation led by Ann Linde, the Foreign Minister of Sweden and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.
03.12.2020 - Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan made a speech during the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council.
29.09.2020 - A special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council was convened in Vienna at the initiative of the OSCE Albanian Chairmanship to discuss the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.
14.02.2020 - On the margins of the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Thomas Greminger, the OSCE Secretary General.
12.02.2020 - Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today hosted Armenia-accredited OSCE countries’ ambassadors in the Office of the Government.
06.12.2019 - Within the framework of the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council in Bratislava, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Miroslav Lajcak, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Slovakia.
05.12.2019 – Working visit of the Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan to Bratislava, to participate in the 26th OSCE Ministerial Council.
26.11.2019 - Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan received Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, who is in Yerevan on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Human Rights Defender’s Office of Armenia.
26.11.2019 – Working visit of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir.
26.11.2019 – Visit of the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly George Tsereteli to Armenia.
26.09.2019 - Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who is in New York for participation in the 74th session of the UNGA, met with Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia and the OSCE Chairman in Office.
09.07.2019 - Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan participated in and delivered remarks at the OSCE Informal Ministerial Gathering entitled “From past action to future prevention: the OSCE’s niche in fostering stability in Europe and beyond”, held in Slovakia.
08.07.2019 - Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan met with Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
13.03.2019 – Тhe working visit of the delegation of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák to Armenia.
Useful Links
http://www.osce.mfa.am/
OSCE/ODIHR
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia is a national coordinator responsible for data collection on hate crimes and preparation of relevant annual summary report for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), The reports are submitted to the Organization on annual basis (see: https://hatecrime.osce.org/armenia).
Armenia - OSCE/ODIHR cooperation is also active in sending and receiving observation missions during elections.
ODIHR conducts training programs for state, law enforcement agencies, as well as for NGOs of Armenia on human rights protection, promotion and monitoring.
Updated on 24.12.2024