TIRANA, December 2 – Russian aggression against Ukraine will remain a major priority during North Macedonia’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2023.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani said this at a press conference in Lodz, Poland, after the conclusion of the 29th OSCE Ministerial Council, according to according to Ukrinform on Friday.
“Ukraine will remain our top priority, also other protracted conflicts,” Osmani said.
He also said that Russia should stop its aggression against Ukraine. “Ahead of us is another difficult year – a year full of uncertainty and unpredictability. We all know the reasons behind this state of play. […] Let me once again be clear: the Russian aggression against Ukraine must stop,” Osmani said.
According to him, North Macedonia stands ready to assume its share of the responsibility, being privileged to serve as the chair of this organization.
The OSCE Ministerial Council was held in the Polish city of Lodz on December 1-2. The focus of the meeting was the issue of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
In 2023, the OSCE chairmanship will pass from Poland to North Macedonia.
During the summit, foreign ministers of Poland, Sweden and North Macedonia issued a joint statement, expressing their concern about “the use of force and coercion to change borders”, emphasising that such actions “have no place in the 21st century.”
“We will find a way to work together, even if that means changing some procedural rules,” Michael Carpenter, U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE, said, referring to Russia’s power of veto as a member of the organisation.
According to him, it had been decided that the OSCE would not continue to be paralysed by Russian obstructionist attempts. “We will be creative, we will be determined and we will find ways to get things done,” he declared.
Zbigniew Rau, Polish Foreign Minister and the outgoing OSCE chairman, assessed the coming years as being “extremely difficult” for the organisation due to the unpredictable military situation in Europe.
/Argumentum.al
