Skopje, 30 November 2023 (MIA) – In his address at the 30th Ministerial Council of the OSCE, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the current developments in the Organization are not the right way to approach the European security issues, stressing that Western capitals are undermining the work of the OSCE. 

“The divisions on the continent undermine the security created by the OSCE and the noble idea upon which the Helsinki process is founded,” said Lavrov.

The Russian Foreign Minister said even though these meetings traditionally conclude with positive and encouraging messages, there is currently no room for optimism. The OSCE, according to Lavrov, has been turned into an organization that serves the interests of NATO and EU, raising the question if there is any point to invest in its revival.

According to Lavrov, recent events have brought into question the functioning of the OSCE as a platform for objective solutions to global issues, undermining the principle of equality of all participants.

In his lengthy speech at the Ministerial Council, Lavrov said there are now more questions than answers, and that there is currently no balance of interests on an international level.

The Russian Foreign Minister touched upon several events from the past, stressing that the NATO and EU member states have destroyed the military-political dimension of the OSCE. He recalled that in 1999 NATO carried out a “brutal aggression” on Yugoslavia, an OSCE member. Lavrov also mentioned the secession of Kosovo from Serbia and “the violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244”.

“In that sense, we can regretfully say that the OSCE is welcoming this anniversary in a deplorable state, and its prospects are unclear,” said the Russian Foreign Minister referring to the 50th anniversary of the Organization.

Lavrov spoke about other issues affecting Russia, which he said have been fueled by Western policy, he spoke about Georgia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Moldova, Donbas, Ukraine, and mentioned the Western sanctions on Russia, labeling them as an attempt to take down the Russian economy.

According to Lavrov, Moldova is the next victim in the “West’s hybrid war against Russia”.

Immediately after ending his speech, the Russian Foreign Minister left the session. His address was boycotted by some of the delegates, who left the hall when OSCE Chairperson Bujar Osmani called on Lavrov to address the Council.

On the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial in Skopje, Lavrov held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Hungary, Ararat Mirzoyan and Péter Szijjártó.

Photo: MIA