The Republic of Azerbaijan joined the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) on January 30, 1992. 
On July 8, 1992 the Republic of Azerbaijan accepted the CSCE Helsinki Final Act of 1975 by the formal signing at the CSCE Helsinki Summit. 
The Republic of Azerbaijan joined the CSCE Charter of Paris on 20 December 1993. 
Azerbaijan signed the Charter for European Security at the OSCE Istanbul Summit on 19 November 1999.

The Additional Meeting of the Council of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) in Helsinki on 24 March 1992 requested the CSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO) to convene as soon as possible a conference on Nagorno-Karabakh under the auspices of the CSCE to provide an ongoing forum for negotiations towards a peaceful settlement of the crisis on the basis of the principles, commitments and provisions of the CSCE. The city of Minsk (Belarus) was selected to host this Conference. It has not to this date been possible to hold the conference that includes designated participants of it. However, under the framework of that conference, negotiations have been conducted to find a political solution to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 
On December 6, 1994 the CSCE Budapest Summit decided to establish a co-chairmanship of the Minsk Conference. The Heads of State and Government directed the co-chairmen of the Minsk Conference to take immediate steps to promote the continuation of the existing cease-fire and, drawing upon the progress already achieved in previous mediation activities, to conduct speedy negotiations for the conclusion of a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict, the implementation of which will eliminate major consequences of the conflict for all parties and permit the convening of the Minsk Conference. They expressed also their political will to deploy multinational peacekeeping forces as an essential part of the comprehensive settlement of the conflict. The Heads of States and Governments decided to establish a High-level Planning Group in Vienna to make recommendations on, inter alia, the size and characteristics of the force, command and control, logistics, allocation of units and resources, rules of engagement and arrangements with contributing States 
At the OSCE Lisbon Summit, which took place on 2-3 December 1996, the following principles of settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict were recommended by the CiO the and Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group and supported by all the OSCE Member States except Armenia: 

- territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Republic; 
- legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh defined in an agreement based on self-determination which confers on Nagorno-Karabakh the highest degree of self-rule within Azerbaijan; 
- guaranteed security for Nagorno-Karabakh and its whole population, including mutual obligations to ensure compliance by all the Parties with the provisions of the settlement. 

The statement of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office containing the above mentioned principles was included in the Lisbon Summit documents. 
France, Russia and the US are the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Process since early 1997. The current Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group are: 

Mr. Anri Jacolen (France); 
Mr. Yuriy Merzlyakov (Russia); 
Mr. Stiv Mann (USA). 

In 1997-1998 the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group elaborated 3 proposals on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. First 2 proposals were rejected by Armenia, the last one by Azerbaijan. 
The Co-Chairmen of the MG visit the region to talk with the Parties to the conflict. They also hold meetings with the CiO and other members of the Minsk Group to brief them on the current state of the process.

The High Level Planning Group (HLPG) was established on 20 December 1994 in accordance with the Decision of the CSCE Budapest Summit of 1994. The main tasks of the HLPG are as follows: 
- to make recommendations for the Chairman-in-Office on developing as soon as possible a plan for the establishment, force structure requirements and operation of a multinational OSCE peacekeeping force; 
- to make recommendations on, inter alia, the size and characteristics of the force, command and control, logistics, allocation of units and resources, rules of engagement and arrangements with contributing States. 

The HLPG is situated in Vienna and made up of military experts seconded by the OSCE Member States. 
After conducting several fact-finding visits to the region of conflict, the HLPG prepared the document entitled "Concept for an OSCE Multinational Peacekeeping Mission for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict". The Document was presented to CiO on 14 July 1995. It included 4 options, 3 of which were a mixture of armed peacekeeping troops and unarmed military observers, their strength varying from 1,500 to 4,500 personnel. The 4th option was an unarmed military observer mission.

On 28 August 1995 the OSCE Chairman-in-Office appointed a Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on the Conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference. Since 1 January 1997 Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Poland) holds this position. 
The Chairman-in-Office authorized his Personal Representative to implement the following duties: 
- represent the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, assist the CiO in achieving an agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict and in creating conditions for the deployment of an OSCE peace-keeping operation, in order to facilitate a lasting comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in all its aspects; 
- report on all aspects of his activities to the CiO of the OSCE, report through the CiO to the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Conference and, as appropriate, to the Minsk Group, and receive instructions from the CiO; 
- assist the Co-Chairmanship at its request; 
- assist the High Level Planning Group in planning an OSCE peace-keeping operation in accordance with the Budapest Summit Decisions; 
- assist the parties in implementing and developing confidence-building, humanitarian and other measures facilitating the peace process, in particular by encouraging direct contacts; 
- co-operate, as appropriate, with representatives of the United Nations and other international organizations operating in the area of conflict. 

One of the main fields of the PR's current activity is to monitor the cease-fire regime established by the Parties to the conflict in May 1994. With this purpose the Personal Representative on a regular basis (usually twice a month) visits various sectors of international border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia as well as the Line of Contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces. 
The headquarters of the PR is located in Tbilisi (Georgia). The PR is assisted by 5 Field Assistants appointed by the CiO. On the basis of the rotation principle Field Assistants are deployed in Baku, Yerevan and Khankendi (the centre of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan).

Since its accession to the CSCE (now OSCE) the Republic of Azerbaijan has participated in all major sessions of the OSCE Negotiating and Decision-making Bodies. The Azerbaijani delegations took part in the summits (meetings of Heads or Government) of the OSCE participating States in Helsinki (1992), Budapest (1994), Lisbon (1996) and Istanbul (1999). 
Since 1992 the delegation of Azerbaijan participates also in the OSCE Ministerial Council meetings. 
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the OSCE participates in the regular sessions and meetings of the OSCE Permanent Council and the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation.

The Republic of Azerbaijan conducts successful cooperation with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights since the mid-1990s. The main objective of this cooperation is to assist Azerbaijan in implementing of democratization reforms that the Government launched since the Republic of Azerbaijan restored its independence in 1991. Major fields of the Azerbaijan-ODIHR cooperation include legislation reform (through expertise of law drafts for bringing domestic legislation in accordance with European standards), reform of law-enforcement and border control agencies and penitentiary system, raising public awareness on human rights and freedoms, gender issues. 
The ODIHR has been actively engaged in the monitoring of presidential (1998), parliamentary (1995, 2000) and municipal (1999) elections in Azerbaijan. 
The cooperation between Azerbaijan and ODIHR also includes several-staged workshop on Human Rights Monitoring and Reporting training. This workshop was organized jointly by the ODIHR, the Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and the OSCE Office in Baku in March-June 2001. The workshop was attended by human rights defenders from Baku and other regions of Azerbaijan. Representatives of governmental institutions also participated. 
On 30 April - 4 May 2001 the ODIHR conducted a seminar on Women's Leadership and Political Participation".

The Republic of Azerbaijan established and currently maintains cooperative links with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Mr. Freimut Duve. Mr. Duve paid an official visit to Azerbaijan on February 22-25, 1999. During the visit he had meetings with the President of Azerbaijan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, a number of other senior officials and media representatives. 
Mr. Stanley Schrager and Ms. Diana Moxhay, who are advisers to Mr. Duve, visited Azerbaijan in November 1998 and June 2001 respectively. 
The authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media conduct intensive exchange of letters on the issues pertaining to the mandate of this Office.

On 16 November 1999 the OSCE Permanent Council adopted a Decision No. 318 to establish the OSCE Office in Baku. 
After the adoption of Decision No 318 by the OSCE Permanent Council the Memorandum of Understanding between the OSCE and the Republic of Azerbaijan was elaborated and concluded. The official inauguration of the Office took place on 18 July 2000 and was attended by then Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria H.E. Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The Office has six international staff members, including the Head of the Office. This number may be increased upon decision by the OSCE Permanent Council. 
The mandate of the Office includes the tasks mentioned below: 

- Promote the implementation of the OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the OSCE framework, in all OSCE dimensions, including human, political, economic and environmental aspects of security and stability; 
- Facilitate contacts, co-ordinate activities and promote information exchange with the Chairman-in-Office and other OSCE institutions as well as co-operation with international organizations and institutions; 
- Establish and maintain contacts with local authorities, universities, research institutions and NGO's and assist in arranging events with OSCE participation; 
- Perform other tasks deemed appropriate by the Chairman-in-Office or other OSCE institutions and agreed on between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the OSCE. 
The Office has so far significantly contributed to the OSCE activities in the field of rendering Azerbaijan assistance in various dimensions and spheres. 
The Office is successfully addressing a number of problems currently existing in Azerbaijan, identifying priorities and urgent requirements, creating efficient mechanisms of support and consultations, encouraging the process of further development of democratic institutions and role of NGOs. 
The Office has actively participated in the process of preparation for and the monitoring of the presidential elections, which took place in October 2003. 
Concerning the Office activities a special tribute has to be paid to the input made by this Office into the accession of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe. 
The OSCE Office in Baku has also established and is successfully maintaining close cooperating links both with the government agencies and non-governmental institutions of Azerbaijan. In this regard such a unique body as a Group of the OSCE Friends needs to be mentioned. Uniting the representatives of a number of state structures and NGOs, and co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and the Head of the Office, this Group was established with the main purpose of developing the joint projects and coordinating their further implementation. 
Currently the OSCE Office is implementing Indicative Programme of Priorities and Activities for 2004, which is a very ambitious and multi-dimensional plan, containing many interesting and important tasks, projects and activities of a high priority for Azerbaijan.

Delegation of the Milli Majlis (the Parliament) of Azerbaijan participates in the Annual Sessions of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Azerbaijani parliamentarians participated in the 10th OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session, which took place in Rotterdam from 5 to 9 July 2003. 
During the period between sessions the members of Azerbaijani delegation contribute to the work of the Standing Committee and General Committees of the Parliamentary Assembly. 
The Republic of Azerbaijan also takes active part in various activities and events arranged by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and in this regard we can mention that delegation of the Milli Majlis participated in the OSCE Parliamentary Seminar "Conflict Resolution and Democratic Development in the Caucasus", Tbilisi (Georgia), 5-6 October 1998, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly seminar "New Risks and Challenges: Minorities in the 21st Century", Antalya (Turkey), 12-13 April 2000. 
On 21-24 October 2001 the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly H.E. Mr. Adrian Severin paid an official visit to Azerbaijan. During the visit President Severin held meetings with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Heydar Aliyev and other high officials, parliamentarians and representatives of civil society. Mr. Severin also visited two settlements for refugees and internally displaced persons.