The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan blocked the preliminary package decision from the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) regarding the appointment for the three-year terms for the next OSCE Secretary General; Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights; the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and High Commissioner for National Minorities, reported Turan.

In a note of protest sent to the OSCE Permanent Council, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expressed its disagreement with the appointment for the next three-year term of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, French diplomat Harlem Desir. The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan explained its position by the fact that during his first three-year mandate, which began in July 2017, Desir showed excessive criticism about the situation with freedom of speech in Azerbaijan.

Considering that the decision-making process of the OSCE Permanent Council is based on consensus, the actions of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry may leave the OSCE leadership decapitated until this coming September. The draft new decision will most likely provide for the appointment to these senior positions separately.