Ukraine and Balts boycott OSCE meeting due to Russia's participation
Ukraine and the Baltic states are boycotting a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) at foreign minister level because of Russia's participation. The participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the talks in the North Macedonian capital Skopje this week offers the leadership in Moscow a propaganda opportunity, the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia announced in a joint statement.
They said that the meeting harboured the danger of "legitimizing the aggressor Russia as a legitimate member of our community of free nations".
They therefore did not want to take part in the consultations on Thursday and Friday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had previously canceled his participation due to Lavrov's visit, according to a spokesperson for the ministry in Kiev. The Federal Foreign Office had announced last Friday that Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock would travel to the meeting. The Berlin ministry said on Tuesday that the plans had not changed. However, Baerbock will only be present on Thursday. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also expected in Skopje.
According to Russian sources, several Western states have expressed interest in bilateral talks with Lavrov. However, these do not include the USA.
According to its own information, the OSCE is the world's largest regional security organization with 57 participating states in North America, Europe and Asia. It works for peace, stability and democracy "through political dialog on shared values and sustained practical work", according to the OSCE website. Russia is a member of the OSCE, but its membership is currently effectively on hold due to the war of aggression against Ukraine.
- The announcement by the Baltic foreign ministers further accentuated the propaganda opportunity for Moscow, as Russia's participation in the OSCE meeting in Skopje was seen as legitimizing their actions in Ukraine.
- Despite Russia's participation, Moscow sought to leverage the occasion for bilateral talks with several Western states, but notable absentees from these discussions included the United States.
- In the midst of this conflict, the OSCE meeting in Skopje served as a contentious platform, with Russia's membership in limbo due to its aggression in Ukraine, and countries like Ukraine and the Baltics choosing to boycott the proceedings to maintain their stand against Moscow's actions.
Source: www.ntv.de
