OSCE Closes Minsk Process, South Caucasus Peace Process Enters New Stage

The decades-long mediation mechanism for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has officially concluded, and the reconciliation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan has entered a new phase led by bilateral efforts.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Council passed a historic decision on September 1 to formally close the Minsk process and its related architecture. This decision was based on a joint request from Armenia and Azerbaijan and was unanimously agreed upon by all 57 OSCE participating states.

This move marks the formal end of the decades-long international mediation mechanism for the Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) conflict and creates new conditions for sustained peace and stability in the South Caucasus region.

01 The End of the Minsk Process

The OSCE Minsk Group was established in 1992, co-chaired by Russia, the United States, and France, aiming to mediate the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Over the past three decades, this mechanism has repeatedly promoted ceasefires and negotiations but failed to achieve a lasting peace settlement.

In March 2025, the foreign ministers of the two countries announced that they had reached an agreement on the text of a peace treaty, the essence of which is their willingness to build relations from scratch, mutually recognizing territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.

02 Joint Appeal and Historic Agreement

The direct trigger for the Ministerial Council's decision was the Joint Declaration signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington on August 8.

The declaration was signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, witnessed by US President Donald Trump.

Subsequently, the two countries sent a joint request to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, asking for the closure of the Minsk process.

03 OSCE's Changing Role

OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu stated: "This is a historic development that highlights what diplomacy can achieve, even after decades of conflict and distrust".

According to the decision, the activities of the Minsk process, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office's Personal Representative, and the High-Level Planning Group were terminated as of September 1.

The OSCE Secretariat is required to resolve all administrative and technical issues arising from the closure of these structures by December 1, 2025.

04 From International Mediation to Bilateral Implementation

The closure of the Minsk Process reflects the clear intention of both Armenia and Azerbaijan to reclaim bilateral control over the peace process. In March 2025, Azerbaijan formally requested the dissolution of the Minsk Group.

Azerbaijan believed that as long as the Armenian constitution still contained claims to Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it would be difficult to consolidate the peace process.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan downplayed this issue, stating that "the Armenian constitution does not make territorial claims against Azerbaijan or any other country," and promised to amend the constitution through a referendum.

05 New Architecture for Regional Peace

With the exit of the Minsk process, the security architecture in the South Caucasus region is being reshaped. The OSCE Ministerial Council's decision clearly states that all previous decisions on the former Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict adopted within the OSCE framework are rendered void and no longer applicable.

This means that the future peace process will be entirely based on new agreements reached through direct negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the 17-point peace agreement text agreed upon in March 2025.

06 International Community's Support and Expectations

The international community has generally welcomed this development. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, stated: "I would like to once again extend my warmest congratulations to Armenia and Azerbaijan on reaching a historic agreement on peace and normalization of relations".

The United States, the EU, and Russia, among others, have welcomed the two countries' agreement on the peace treaty, believing it paves the way for peace, security, and prosperity in the South Caucasus region.

However, some international media believe that reaching a consensus on the peace treaty text does not mean the two countries are about to sign a peace agreement, and differences remain between them on some key issues.

OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu pointed out: "This decision shows that reaching an agreement is still possible when both sides have a common determination to find common ground".

With the Minsk Process now consigned to history, Armenia and Azerbaijan will henceforth steer their own peace process entirely. The South Caucasus region has entered a new era shaped by bilateral agreements rather than international mediation.