The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on November 30 kicked off its annual summit in North Macedonia amid boycotts and criticism from some member states for the presence in Skopje of Russia’s top diplomat as Moscow continues its war on Ukraine.
North Macedonia’s foreign minister, Bujar Osmani, who currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the pan-European security body, slammed Russia’s ongoing invasion in his opening remarks as host of the summit.
“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine flies in the face of all this organization holds dear,” Osmani said.
Despite Osmani’s remarks, North Macedonia has still faced criticism that it has given in to Moscow by allowing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to attend the meeting, though not without issues.
The US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O’Brien, at the summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is taking place in Skopje, called on Russia to end the violation of the principles of the OSCE.
“I add my voice, with that of my colleagues, who call on Russia to end the violation of the basic principles of this organization, but I am not sure if it is still ready to listen to us,” he said. O’Brien.
He emphasized that despite those countries that have tried to block the organization’s work, the OSCE will continue to function.
“Now it is the choice of the states that have tried to block the work of this organization, to see their readiness if they will stay with the civilized community, based on the final act of Helsinki, or if they want to continue their obstacles. The OSCE will be fine, still, but it is important for them to choose if they will continue to be with us in this effort”, O’Brien stated.
Diplomats from 57 member countries of the organization are participating in the OSCE summit, including the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov.
In his opening speech, the Macedonian Prime Minister, Dimitar Kovacevski, as the host of the summit, focused on the challenges faced by the OSCE after Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.
“We have presided over the most difficult year for the OSCE, given that the organization has faced a number of challenges in light of Russia’s unjustified aggression against Ukraine. But I hope that we will be able to approve the decisions to choose the new chairman and the four most important positions in the OSCE, as well as the budget for the operation of the organization”, Kovacevski said, as he emphasized the meeting on Wednesday with The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Britain, David Cameron.
“We must be aware that each country in its own way sends messages about Russia’s unjustified aggression against a sovereign state, in Ukraine. Some countries do this with their absence, and some with clearly expressed views,” he said. Kovacevski.
He added that the Russian aggression against Ukraine has continued “with high intensity and with serious and destructive consequences, confirming its injustice”.
“Every day that passes and every life lost is proving the severity of the aggression and the act of flagrant violation of sovereignty and the charter of the United Nations, the principles and commitments of the OSCE, but above all human values. The people of Ukraine deserve peace and the war must stop. Achieving peace remains imperative. This war is continuing to destroy the foundations of the OSCE,” Kovacevski declared.
Osmani: Russia violated human security and OSCE principles
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, in his capacity as the chairman with the OSCE, has called on the participants in the summit to reach a consensus for Malta as the next chairman with the OSCE for 2024. He
has said that he believes that the consensus for Malta will be formalized on Friday by the participating states of the summit.
Osmani affirmed the fact that the OSCE, during the presidency of North Macedonia, faced the consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine, violating the rules of this organization and European and human security.
“I have three key messages as a predecessor. North Macedonia took over the chairmanship with the OSCE at a time of active war and a threat to European security and international peace. Russian aggression against Ukraine violated the rules of this organization and violated European and human security, dialogue and destroyed the lives of people who want to live freely and without fear of war. Instead of collective interest, selfish national interests are targeted. This created a difficult operating environment and against this we remained determined to serve as defenders of OSCE values and most member states avoided defeatism [defeat] and presented challenges to the existence of the OSCE,” said Osmani.
Diplomats from 57 member countries of the organization are participating in the OSCE summit, including the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov.
Lavrov arrived in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, in the early hours of November 30.
The participation of the Russian diplomat in the OSCE summit was previously made possible by Skopje and Sofia, which temporarily suspended the sanctions imposed by the European Union on the flights of Russian aircraft due to Russian aggression against Ukraine.
However, Lavrov’s plane was forced to travel over Turkey and Greece to reach North Macedonia as Bulgaria did not allow Lavrov’s plane to fly over Bulgarian airspace because the permission granted was only valid for members of Lavrov’s delegation, among them who also have persons sanctioned by the EU.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is under EU sanctions and was on board the plane, said her presence was the reason Bulgaria refused to fly over its airspace.
She accused Bulgaria of “stupidity” for refusing to allow Lavrov’s plane to fly over Bulgarian airspace.
The participation of the Russian diplomat in the OSCE summit has caused many debates and reactions, Russia by participating in this summit is benefiting and strengthening its position on the international stage, despite the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine and the Baltic states, as a sign of dissatisfaction, have not sent the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to the Ministerial Council.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov held a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Peter Szijjarto, on the sidelines of the OSCE summit in Skopje, Zakharova said.
Other meetings with the head of Russian diplomacy, for now, have not been announced by the delegations./REL
