OSCE Ministerial Council: Azerbaijan, Cyprus strengthen diplomatic engagement

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos during the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting held in Malta.

Bayramov shared details of the meeting on social media platform X, highlighting discussions on key regional security issues, Caliber.Az reports.

He noted that the two sides exchanged views on a broad range of security-related topics and emphasized the significance of continuing constructive dialogue.

Both diplomats reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation and deepening their interaction within the OSCE framework to promote stability and peace in the region.

This marked the second meeting between Kombos and Bayramov. Their first encounter took place during the COP29 summit last month in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides described that initial meeting as one of “symbolic and significant importance.”

The OSCE Ministerial Council, which convenes annually in early December, is the organization's principal decision-making body. This year's 31st session in Valletta, Malta, began on December 4 and brought together representatives from all 57 participating states.

The Valletta session is chaired by Malta’s Foreign Minister Ian Borg and aims to address major security challenges, including the Ukrainian crisis, energy, and food security. Delegates are also expected to evaluate conflict resolution strategies and review leadership plans, with Finland set to chair in 2025 and Switzerland under consideration for the 2026 chairmanship.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to participate in the proceedings, focusing on assessing the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security situation and reaffirming the OSCE’s critical role in promoting comprehensive security. Blinken will join foreign ministers and senior officials in thanking Malta for its leadership under Foreign Minister Ian Borg's chairmanship. Participating nations, such as Türkiye, have expressed interest in discussions about conflict resolution, particularly in the context of the Ukrainian crisis and related global implications.

By Tamilla Hasanova