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Government representatives from Russia and Belarus are expected in Helsinki next week to attend the Helsinki+50 conference, hosted by Finland in its role as chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The OSCE chairmanship office confirmed that two delegates from the Russian government and three from Belarus are scheduled to take part in the event.
The Helsinki+50 conference marks half a century since the 1975 Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), held in the Finnish capital, which led to the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act, a cornerstone of the OSCE framework.
The event will focus on reaffirming the commitment of participating states to the founding principles of the OSCE, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and human rights.
Finland holds the OSCE chair for the current calendar year. As chair, it has emphasised dialogue and adherence to the original spirit of the Helsinki Accords, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions among member states.
The presence of Russian and Belarusian officials is likely to draw attention amid continued criticism of both countries’ roles in regional conflicts, particularly Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Finnish organisers have not disclosed the full list of attendees or the identities of the Russian and Belarusian representatives.
The Helsinki+50 conference is scheduled to take place in the Finnish capital over several days, with sessions involving diplomats, experts, and observers from across the OSCE’s 57 participating states.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
