Helsinki, July 31–August 1, 2025 – A delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan headed by the Special Representative of the President for Afghanistan, Ambassador-at-Large Yerkin Tukumov participated in the Helsinki+50 High-level Conference dedicated to the fiftieth anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, which is the founding document of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. (OSCE).

The anniversary event, organized by the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship, was attended by over 1,000 representatives of participating States, partners for cooperation, executive structures and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization, as well as international and non-governmental organizations, including representatives of Kazakh civil society.

The conference, which was held under the motto "Respecting the Legacy, preparing for the Future," emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation on all aspects of comprehensive security, with a special focus on the role of civil society. The participants paid tribute to the legacy of the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and confirmed the continuing relevance of its principles in times of serious geopolitical challenges.

Opening the Conference, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen noted that despite the challenges facing the Organization, the Helsinki Principles remain inviolable. The legacy of the Helsinki Final Act lives on in the historic commitments enshrined in the Paris Charter for a New Europe of 1990, the Istanbul Charter for European Security of 1999 and the Astana Jubilee Declaration of 2010.

"From early confidence-building measures to the work of its institutions and field operations, the OSCE has made significant contributions to conflict prevention, democratic development, respect for human rights, and post-conflict reconciliation," Minister Valtonen emphasized. The Chairperson-in-Office called for making the OSCE more functional and sustainable. In this regard, during the event, the Minister announced the launch of the Helsinki+50 Fund, aimed at improving the use of voluntary OSCE funding.

In his speech, the President of Finland Alexander Stubb expressed the hope that people, cooperation and dialogue will also be at the center of European security in the future. He stressed that this conference and the wide representation of various non-governmental organizations attest to Finland's commitment to strengthening European security at various levels.

Within the framework of the Conference, the delegation of Kazakhstan participated in the Helsinki+50 discussions on the future of the OSCE, during which participants discussed initiatives and proposals to improve the Organization's functionality, as well as prospects for its development and continued commitment to the fundamental principles laid down in the Helsinki Final Act.

In general, the Conference participants agreed that despite the difficult geopolitical situation in the region, the OSCE remains a unique platform for inclusive dialogue and crisis resolution in the Organization's region and has a wide range of tools to ensure security and cooperation between participating States.

On the sidelines of the event, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerkin Tukumov held several meetings, including with the OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioğlu.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-vienna/press/news/details/1044731?lang=kk