Estonia’s top diplomat condemns Russia’s, Belarus’ veto on OSCE chairmanship

November 22, Pozirk. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the veto imposed by Russia and “at their instigation, Belarus” on his country’s chairmanship in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2024.

“Because of Russia and Belarus, we now find ourselves in a situation where a mere six weeks before the new year, the OSCE does not have a confirmed chairmanship, even though Estonia has been the joint candidate of the European Union since 2020,” he noted.

Russia “is violating all fundamental principles of the OSCE” as it continues waging aggressive war against Ukraine, Tsahkna added. “It is unacceptable to subject to Moscow’s demands and blackmail, including its wish that the next country to hold the OSCE Chairmanship is not a NATO member,” the diplomat stressed.

He called for isolating Russia in the international arena rather than appeasing Moscow.

At the November 21 meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Russia and Belarus voted to block Estonia’s candidacy for OSCE chairmanship in 2024. All decisions at the OSCE require consensus.