The OSCE Permanent Council on Friday considered the issue of extending the mandate of the OSCE Office in Yerevan during a session held in its headquarters.

Speaking at the session, the Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, Clemens Koja, noted that within the framework of discussing the aforementioned issue, Azerbaijan expressed concern on the non-conformity between the Office’s humanitarian demining program and the mandate of the mission.

In this connection, he stressed that based on the results of the visit to Yerevan and the observations on the ground, the Special representative of the OSCE Chairmanship concluded that the mentioned program is in line with the Office’s mandate.  Mr Koja added that both the former German and current Austrian Chairmanships support that view.

The Chairman expressed regret over the fact that even in these conditions the decision on extending the mandate of the Yerevan Office is postponed, stressing that this may negatively impact the entire activity of the OSCE.

As an option of settling the emerged situation, the OSCE Chairmanship urged the Yerevan Office to refrain from implementing the demining program.  Furthermore, Mr Koja stressed that all the other programs of the Office should continue. Moreover, the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE expressed gratitude to Armenia as a host state for approaching the matter with understanding.

He also informed that certain OSCE member states have shown interest in implementing such programs with Armenia in a bilateral format. In this context, the OSCE Chairmanship urged the organization’s member states to support the activity of the OSCE Yerevan Office, since it is important for the entire organization.

The Chairman of the OSCE Permanent Council thanked Armenia for its exclusively constructive position. 

Appearing in isolation and opposing 56 OSCE member states, Azerbaijan spoke against extending the mandate of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

In contrast, the delegations of a number of OSCE member-states, including Russia, U.S., EU, Canada and Switzerland in their speeches backed the activity of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.