OSCE Secretary General Sinirlioğlu to visit Finland

The new Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Feridun Sinirlioğlu, will visit Helsinki on 16 January at the invitation of Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, who is currently OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

In their bilateral meeting, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu will discuss the priorities of Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship, respect for the OSCE principles and commitments as well as ways to further strengthen the OSCE’s support to Ukraine.

In Ukraine, the OSCE operates especially through its Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU). During her visit to Ukraine last week, Minister Valtonen met with SPU staff and thanked them for their valuable work for Ukraine. 

During its Chairpersonship, Finland will highlight respect for the OSCE principles.

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a violation of international law and all the key principles of the OSCE. Finland continues to stand with Ukraine. Ukraine is at the heart of our Chairpersonship,” Minister Valtonen says.

Secretary General Sinirlioğlu will also meet President of the Republic Alexander Stubb, Permanent State Secretary Jukka Salovaara and civil society representatives and researchers. He will also visit the Finnish Parliament.

Sinirlioğlu was appointed as OSCE Secretary General in December 2024.