Skopje, 1 December 2023 (MIA) – At a press conference on Friday, on the sidelines of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that it was U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, not he, who had “fled” a meeting.

“Blinken fled the meeting, I didn’t go anywhere. Today, Madam Zakharova showed me two different photographs that were published in the Macedonian newspapers. The first photograph, it was the day before yesterday when everyone came to have dinner, they took a photograph, and now I understand what it was done for. So that these newspapers publish the photograph and say everyone came there, but not Lavrov, Lavrov is isolated… But the official opening was the next morning, and other newspapers published photographs of the opening, where I was present alongside all my colleagues. The Ukrainian minister wasn’t there, nor the representatives of the Baltic states. Secretary Blinken and Borrell left. Why did they do that? Probably they believed that that’s how they can show their intention to isolate Russia,” said Lavrov.

Blinken attended an informal dinner of the heads of delegations that was held on Wednesday evening, but did not attend the official opening of the Ministerial Council, where the United States were represented by the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O’Brien.

At the press conference, Lavrov said there is a total degradation of everything that has been created by the OSCE and of all of the Organization’s dimensions. He said his European counterparts have not learned anything, noting that over 90 percent of all speeches at the plenary session confirmed that.

“I can see that efforts are being done to extend this agony. What will be gained with an extension of a few months, six months, or a year,” said Lavrov at the press conference.

The Russian Minister said his impression is that there is no chance of saving the OSCE.

“The Organization has turned into something which I am indifferent to. I am indifferent to the outcome of today’s session,” said Lavrov.

There was significant media interest in the press conference of the Russian Foreign Minister, which was held at the same time as the third plenary session of the OSCE Ministerial Council.

According to reports, Lavrov will not attend the closing session of the Ministerial Council, during which decisions have to be made on the functioning of the OSCE.

Photo: MIA