MOSCOW: Russia has accused Western countries of trying to hinder its participation in the annual ministerial conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, currently under European sanctions, sought permission to fly over EU airspace to attend the two-day meeting scheduled to begin on Thursday in Skopje, North Macedonia.
The decision by Ukraine and the Baltic states to skip the meeting due to Lavrov’s attendance has intensified the diplomatic tension. These countries argue that Russia should be excluded from the conference, citing its offensive actions in Ukraine.
Russia Accuses West of Jeopardizing Existence of OSCE
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the situation, stating, “We see attempts by part of the West to do everything possible to hinder our country’s normal participation at this meeting.” She accused unnamed countries of jeopardizing the existence of the organization to satisfy their ambitions.
Last year, when Poland hosted the annual meeting, it denied entry to Lavrov, sparking a strong reaction from Moscow. However, Bulgaria has taken a different stance by allowing Lavrov to fly over its airspace, making a diplomatic exception to the general closure of European skies to Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.
The decision by Bulgaria has triggered furious responses from Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In response to Lavrov’s attendance, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has stated that he will attend the meeting in Skopje but will not engage in direct discussions with Lavrov.
