Skopje, 29 November 2023 (MIA) - Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said Wednesday that the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje will be a good occasion for Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to hear directly from the participants why Russia is being condemned and isolated, and then be able to go back to Kremlin and report that the EU and the OSCE remain united in deploring Russia's aggressive and unlawful behavior.

"I understand the unease of some participating States about your decision to allow Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to participate. I understand because with its illegal war in Ukraine, Russia is violating the UN Charter, violating the same principles of the OSCE, and violating international law en large, and for that it is facing international sanctions and international isolation. Yet, your decision to allow Lavrov to participate is in line with our common objective to keep multilateralism alive. And Lavrov needs to hear, again, from everyone, why Russia is being condemned and isolated. It will be a good occasion for him to listen directly from the participants in this meeting, why Russia is being condemned and isolated, and then he will be able to go back to Kremlin and report to the Kremlin master that the European Union and the OSCE remain united in deploring Russia's aggressive, unlawful beavior. It isgoing to be useful from this point of view," Borrell said after Wednesday's meeting with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski. 

Borrell pointed out that the OSCE remains an important partner in spite of all the troubled times in which we are living, and because we are living in troubled times it is even more important, an important partner organization and a forum for exchange for the European Union. 

"We value a lot the role of the OSCE, especially in those times. The OSCE is the only platform where our common European security architecture is and should be discussed, despite the attempts by Russia to undermine the OSCE, to undermine its fundamental principles, and the existing security arrangements," Borrell said. 

He underlined that it is essential for the Ministerial Council to ensure that the OSCE has all the necessary means at its disposal to function effectively.

"We don't want to lose the OSCE working capacity. We commend the work that you, North Macedonia, did. You did well. And you deserve thank you for that," said Borrell. 

The EU High Representative welcomed the proposal that Malta will be the Chairman-in-Office for 2024, adding that he is looking forward for the adoption of this decision at the Ministerial Council in Skopje.  

Borrell also stressed that the European Union stands with Ukraine, because Ukraine fights not only to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but its fight is also for the peace and stability in Europe.

“When I’m saying peace and stability in Europe, I am including the Western Balkans. On this note, I want to appreciate the position of North Macedonia, your impecable, full alignment with the European Union’s foreign policy,” said Borrell.

Kovachevski and Borrell held a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, ahead of the OSCE Ministerial Council, with Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj and EU Ambassador David Geer also in attendance. 

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