Lavrov has asked to stay in Skopje for the annual OSCE conference

The Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, has asked to stay in North Macedonia for the annual OSCE Ministerial Conference, which will take place in Skopje from November 29 to December 1.

Seventy-six delegations from OSCE member and partner countries are expected to attend the conference. More than 1,000 guests, more than 100 media representatives, delegations from several countries, including the USA, Great Britain and Russia, are expected to attend.

“In Skopje, two warring parties (Russia and Ukraine), between whom there is no communication and no dialog, will have the opportunity to sit down at the same table,” said today in Skopje the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.

Osmani confirmed that Lavrov had sent him a letter five days ago in which he “showed interest and asked to ensure his presence in Skopje”.

He says that Lavrov’s arrival is still uncertain, as the country’s airspace is closed to Russian state aircraft and those of neighboring countries.

The airspace closure was in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine. However, since the beginning of the war, Russia has repeatedly obstructed the work of the OSCE, where decisions are made by consensus, and blocked some decisions that were in its interest. So far, Lavrov has repeatedly vetoed Estonia’s bid for the 2024 presidency, blocked the OSCE budget and vetoed missions to Ukraine.

Osmani expects that “the Russian Federation will show signs of compromise and cooperation to facilitate the process of complete security”.

Regardless of whether Lavrov comes or not, Russia as a state will participate in this activity with its representatives, according to the diplomatic chief’s announcements.

Lawrow’s possible absence will complicate the election of the next OSCE Chairperson for 2024, as decisions are made by consensus.

“We are working on several scenarios,” says Osmani. “Countries disagree on who can chair the OSCE, but efforts are being made to find a solution to this problem.”

The first scenario sees Estonia holding the chairmanship, as it is the only formal candidate, but faces a lack of support from Russia.

If no consensus is reached on who will be its chair, it is likely that North Macedonia will continue as chair next year, which would be the first time in the OSCE’s history.

Osmani said that the organization of the last OSCE summit in Skopje will cost between five and eight million euros and almost the entire amount will be paid by North Macedonia as chair.

More than 200 people will be involved in the logistics of the event. There will be a charter flight from Brussels to Skopje and some delegations will arrive in their own planes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is paying 960,000 euros for the rental of vehicles intended for the foreign ministers of OSCE member states.

Osmani says that the OSCE is facing a crisis for the first time and decisions about the future of the organization will be made in Skopje. /The Geopost/