Washington is disappointed by the news about Azerbaijan's intention to end the OSCE’s presence in the country and encourages Baku to reconsider its decision, TURAN agency reported.

Washington's reaction was announced by U.S. Ambassador Daniel Baer to the OSCE Permanent Council, in Vienna on June 8, during a special OSCE Permanent Council session on Azerbaijan.

Baer said it’s important to remember that the Project Coordinator’s Office operates based on a political mandate that was agreed to by all 57 participating States.  Like any consensus decision of the participating States, it “cannot be undone except by a consensus decision.”

“One of the ways in which governments demonstrate their commitment to improving the comprehensive security that their citizens enjoy is through direct engagement with the OSCE. OSCE field presences have worked with citizens and governments of many States of the OSCE area to boost efforts at reform, and at continuous improvement of implementation of OSCE commitments,” Ambassador said.

The decision to close the office is not good for the OSCE; this is not good for comprehensive security in the region; this is not good for the people or the government of Azerbaijan, he added.

“We hope that the government of Azerbaijan will work with the other 56 participating States to find a way forward that is consistent with advancing implementation of OSCE commitments and our shared security,” Ambassador resumed.