LONDON

The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Feridun Sinirlioglu, met Finnish President Alexander Stubb and OSCE Chair-in-Office Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Helsinki as he concluded his first visit Friday as the group’s head.

Sinirlioglu traveled to the Finnish capital on Thursday as part of a two-day visit where he met Stubb, Valtonen and senior Foreign Ministry officials.

Sinirlioglu underscored in discussions with Valtonen his commitment to working together to create a strong and resilient organization that can foster a more secure OSCE region, and to prepare for the future, OSCE said in a statement.

"These are challenging times, but I am confident that through hard diplomatic work we will be able to strengthen the Organization and contribute to a safer, more secure Europe and beyond," noted Sinirlioglu.

They also discussed the priorities of the Finnish chairpersonship and addressed some key security issues faced by the region, including the war in Ukraine.

"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," said Valtonen.

Sinirlioglu, a former Turkish foreign minister, was elected OSCE secretary-general last month, the first Turk to hold the position.

His election was unanimously approved by the OSCE’s 57 member states spanning North America, Europe and Asia.

He will serve a three-year term at the helm of the organization, which was established in 1975 during the Cold War to foster dialogue and ease tensions between the Eastern and Western blocs.