Statement by Minister Valtonen at the UN Security Council meeting

Statement by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, 8 December 2025.

Madam President. Excellencies,

Thank you for the opportunity to address the Security Council as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE.

Fifty years ago, in 1975, the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe gathered in Finland and adopted the Helsinki Final Act, laying the foundation for today’s OSCE.

Its principles mirror the UN Charter: sovereign equality, territorial integrity, inviolability of frontiers, refraining from the threat or use of force, and respect for human rights. For five decades, the OSCE has been the guardian of these principles, and held States accountable. It continues to do so.

In the depths of the Cold War, what made the Helsinki spirit groundbreaking, was the recognition that security is not merely a matter of regulating behaviour between governments — it is inseparable from the rights of individuals. Granting fundamental rights to their citizens is a duty for each participating state.

In the years to come, the spirit of Helsinki helped ordinary people - suffering from oppression behind the Iron Curtain - to see hope and eventually ”tear down that wall”. 

That same spirit can still today be witnessed across the OSCE region. Again, the force for good lies with the people. And given the choice, the people choose freedom. That’s what the Helsinki principles are all about.

Madame President,

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is the largest and longest war in Europe since the Second World War. In Ukraine, Russia is violating the UN Charter and each of the ten Helsinki principles.

Supporting Ukraine and promoting accountability for violations of international law have been at the heart of the work of our Chairpersonship of the OSCE. I call on all to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace – as soon as possible. 

I am convinced that the way this war ends will decisively shape the future of peace and stability not only in Europe, but across the world.

It will also highlight the extent to which the aggressor - a Permanent Member of this Council – will respect the UN Charter and the tenth Helsinki Principle, which requires that obligations under international law must be fulfilled in good faith.

During our Chairpersonship we have taken steps to ensure that accountability follows from Russia’s violations of international law, including the unlawful deportation of children. For instance, through the OSCE Support Program for Ukraine, we have helped register missing children and support their rehabilitation.

Madame President,

While Ukraine has been central to our work in the OSCE, I am happy to report that our engagement with the OSCE region has been broad, with peace mediation at the core of several efforts:

In Moldova, we underlined Moldova’s ownership of the Transnistrian settlement process as well as our support for revitalizing it. We remind Russia of its 1999 Istanbul Summit commitment to withdraw forces and equipment — unconditionally and without delay.

The OSCE and its Mission stand ready to dismantle the Cobasna arms depot in Transnistria, which also poses an environmental risk to the local population.

In the South Caucasus, the world has witnessed positive developments in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In August, we reached a consensus to close the Minsk Structures dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict—a vital step to support the peace process.

In Georgia, we reaffirmed our commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity. We addressed democratic backsliding and highlighted the role of civil society. It is for the people of Georgia to decide on their own future.

In Central Asia, we shared best practices and experiences from close Nordic cooperation. The trilateral border agreement between Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan is a testament to what good regional cooperation can achieve.

In Southeastern Europe, we supported Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitutional order, emphasized social dialogue in Serbia, and backed efforts to resolve Kosovo’s political and institutional crisis.

Moreover – and importantly – we also looked beyond our own region, and strengthened ties with the OSCE Partners for Cooperation, recognizing that Euro-Atlantic stability is interconnected with security and stability in other regions, such as the Indo-Pacific region.

Madame President,

There is no need to re-invent the European security order.

Instead, there is a need to abide by the OSCE principles we have already agreed to, and respect international law and the UN Charter.

There is also a need to utilize the OSCE fully, for what it was created for. The OSCE has great potential.

Its comprehensive approach, autonomous institutions, and 12 field operations prevent conflicts and work to make the collective commitments of the 57 participating States a reality.

As the same time, during our Chairpersonship Finland has introduced an agenda of reform on the future of the OSCE. The Helsinki+50 Discussions have generated broad support, reinforced ownership among participating States, and produced concrete reform proposals, some already under implementation.

Like the UN, the OSCE needs efficiency, flexibility and the ability to deliver. To this end, the new Helsinki+50 Fund seeks to strengthen the operational capacity of the OSCE.

Madame President,

Multilateral cooperation based on international law can and must be the bedrock for international peace and security. This is also what countries and peoples around the world expect.

Effective multilateralism requires a capable and relevant UN as well as effective and relevant regional organizations. While this Council bears primary responsibility for international peace and security, regional efforts can amplify its impact. Indeed, the UN Charter itself encourages the settlement of local disputes through regional organizations, before referring them to this Council.

As Chair of the OSCE, Finland has advanced UN-OSCE cooperation under Chapter VIII (eight) of the UN Charter. The UN-OSCE partnership is essential for peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region and beyond. The UN, the OSCE and their staff continue to cooperate for common goals in various contexts. And being here in New York, I want to commend the UN and its staff for their important contribution.

I am also pleased to report that we have integrated the Pact for the Future in the OSCE’s activities. For instance, we have promoted the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions in the OSCE on both Women, Peace and Security as well as Youth, Peace and Security. Moreover, we have prioritized civic space and promoted civil society engagement, to ensure that their contributions are heard in shaping the future of security cooperation.

Madame President,

I would like to end where I began and return to the UN Charter and the Helsinki Principles. 

The world has changed a lot in the past decades. And let us not forget, most of the change has been for the better. The number of countries rated Free has nearly doubled since 1975, when the Helsinki final act was signed.

In the OSCE, the absolute number of independent, democratic, free societies has increased by around 15 to over 40. Across the world, people live longer, are healthier and better educated. They are freer than ever to shape their own future. 

This is the enduring spirit of the Helsinki Final Act — a spirit that is alive in the hands, hearts and minds of those who dare to believe that freedom is a right for everyone - not a privilege for the few.  

The power to tear down walls lies with the people. It always has, and it always will.

I thank you.