Turkish diplomat Feridun Sinirlioglu was appointed as the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Friday after a tense meeting in Malta due to Russia’s participation.
The OSCE, consisting of 57 countries and based in Vienna, had been without a secretary general since September, with its last agreed budget dating back to 2021.
The organisation has been paralysed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as Moscow has blocked key decisions, which require unanimity.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended Thursday’s ministerial meeting in Ta’ Qali, near Valletta. This marked his first visit to an EU country since the invasion began.
Last year, Ukraine boycotted the OSCE ministerial meeting in North Macedonia because of Lavrov’s presence. However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga participated in Thursday’s discussions in Malta.
"Today, we demonstrated that even in adversity, this organisation remains a cornerstone of multilateralism," said Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg, host of the meeting.
Sinirlioglu is an experienced diplomat, having served as Turkey’s Ambassador to Israel, Foreign Minister and Permanent Representative to the UN. He has pledged to "serve as a bridge and facilitator" among OSCE member states.
He succeeds Germany’s Helga Maria Schmid, who was appointed in December 2020 for a three-year term that was extended until September.
The OSCE was founded in 1975 to ease tensions between East and West during the Cold War and sends observers to conflicts and elections worldwide.
