The conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ended on Friday in the Finish capital Helsinki without a long-sought declaration on common goals.

One of the stumbling blocks at this year's meeting of foreign ministers was Moscow's reluctance to allow international monitors into the breakaway province of South Ossetia, which is still controlled by Russian troops after the war with Georgia in August.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the conference that Western arm shipments to Georgia were partly to blame for tension in the Caucasus region.

Alexander Stubb, Finnish Foreign Minister and current Chairman of organization, said OSCE would continue negotiations on extending its mandate in South Ossetia.

"I'm a little bit disappointed that we didn't get a political declaration. I think we had a window of opportunity to do it. We missed it. But at least we were able to sort a few of the key issues."

OSCE is made up of 56 countries from Europe, Central Asia and North America, and is concerned primarily with conflict prevention, election observing, crisis management and rehabilitation of post-conflict areas.

Organizers had hoped to reach a declaration that supported the OSCE's role in monitoring the cease-fire and strengthened its presence in areas affected by the war.