MOSCOW, Nov 30. Organizations for security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) requires an equal dialogue to overcome the crisis, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting with colleagues from North Macedonia and Malta Bujar Osmani and Ian Borch, his words were quoted by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
«The state of affairs in the OSCE was discussed «. The Russian side emphasized that in order for the organization to emerge from the current deep crisis and return to normal activities, it is necessary to resume mutually respectful and equal dialogue between the participating states, observe the fundamental rule of consensus, and strictly follow the rules of procedure,» the message says.
North Macedonia is chairing the OSCE this year.
The negotiations took place on the sidelines of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the member countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Earlier today, the Russian minister also held meetings with colleagues from Hungary, Kazakhstan, Armenia and on his feet spoke with the head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry.
The meeting of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers will last until December 1. Participants are expected to discuss security concerns on the continent amid the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, as well as the choice of the next chairman.
Estonia was mentioned as a possible successor to North Macedonia, but Russia and Belarus opposed it. After this, Malta proposed its candidacy. Osmani supported the initiative, saying it opens the way to consensus.
Lavrov flew to Skopje the night before. This trip was his first visit to Europe since the start of the special operation in Ukraine, not counting Belarus and Turkey.