Azerbaijan rejects OSCE funding for Minsk Group activities in 2024 budget

Azerbaijan has taken a strong stance against the allocation of funds to the OSCE Minsk Group and related institutions as part of the OSCE Unified Budget for 2024.

The move comes as part of the country's ongoing concerns over the programmatic activities of these institutions, which have been closely tied to the Minsk process.

The objection was highlighted in the 2024 activity report of Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers, Caliber.Az reports citing local media.

It was stated that Azerbaijan opposed financing any OSCE efforts linked to the Minsk Group, including the work of the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk, and the High-Level Planning Group.

Azerbaijan’s position stems from the lack of consensus over the role of these OSCE institutions in the Minsk process, which has long been a point of contention.

The report underlined that, during the year, Azerbaijan closely monitored discussions within OSCE structures and took strategic actions to counter any initiatives that could undermine its interests, particularly in the post-conflict context.

The government’s actions reflect a clear desire to steer the OSCE’s activities away from what it sees as agendas that are not aligned with its priorities, reinforcing its stance on matters of territorial integrity and national interests.

By Tamilla Hasanova