• Sunday, 07 July 2024

Osmani: OSCE Ministerial Council biggest event in country

Osmani: OSCE Ministerial Council biggest event in country

Skopje, 6 November 2023 (MIA) - The OSCE Ministerial Council, set to take place in Skopje on November 30-December 1, will be the biggest event in the country, both in scope and substance, Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani told a press briefing on Monday.

The event, to be held at the Boris Trajkovski sports hall, will bring together 76 delegations and 1,000 guests from OSCE member-states and partners. Although invited, it is still uncertain if the Russian FM will come due to the closed airspace for Russian airplanes in North Macedonia and neighboring countries.

Osmani said that for the first time on record, OSCE is in an existential crisis because of the declining trust among member-states since the aggression against Ukraine.

"There is no chairmanship for 2024, although it should be designated two years in advance. Countries are divided on the issue," said Osmani and voiced expectation that the decision would be made in Skopje.

In addition, the organization is also facing the problem of not having approved a budget.

"The decision on OSCE's future will be made in this very hall. The event is an opportunity for dialogue among ministers of the biggest countries in the world on issues important for the OSCE region. Skopje will be the center of the world," said Osmani.

Over 200 people will be engaged in the event organization, along with 200 Army members as drivers of the delegations. A charter flight will bring some delegations from Brussels, while others will arrive with their own aircraft.

The event will start with an informal dinner on November 29, followed by the two-day official part of the Ministerial Council.