Observers note an increased engagement by GUAM countries in the work of the organisation in the last year.

Mrs Merkel said Russia was "creating problems" for Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine and that Russia's violation of "the territorial integrity of Ukraine must not be allowed to stand".

At a meeting with the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Foreign Minister Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan already had a strategic relationship with a number of EU countries and hoped this could be established with the EU itself also.

The Swiss Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014 was marked by challenges to European security unprecedented since the creation of the organisation. Switzerland probably saved the OSCE from collapse. Its successors now need to ensure its future.

Ministers of France, Russia and the United States issue statement in Basel calling for negotiations on a comprehensive peace agreement to start as soon as possible.

Unconfirmed reports say that the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are likely to meet on the margins of the meeting, under the auspices of the Minsk Group.

Turkey rolls out the turquoise carpet, during a lavish welcoming ceremony for the Russian leader in Ankara.

President Putin starts visit to Turkey on Monday with economic relations high on the agenda. The two countries however have significant differences on regional issues.

Arseniy Yatseniuk has been re-elected Prime Minister with two-thirds majority, giving him a clear mandate to pursue much needed reforms.

Efforts continue to try to stop an escalation of the violence as the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan prepare to meet in Switzerland next week.