Skopje, 28 November 2023 (MIA) - Bulgaria has granted overflight approval for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's plane en route to North Macedonia for the OSCE Ministerial Council, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Embassy in Sofia said late Monday. 

"In response to a relevant request from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, the OSCE’s 2023 Chair and host of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje on November 30–December 1, 2023, to grant overflight permission for delegations to participate in the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria granted permission for the Rossiya Special Flight Squadron to overfly Bulgarian airspace to perform a flight for a delegation to participate in the international forum in Skopje," said Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry.

Russia’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova, also confirmed that the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has given a positive response for Lavrov’s plane to overfly Bulgarian airspace. 

"The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has officially informed us that our minister is allowed to fly over the country's airspace," said Ambassador Mitrofanova.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that he would attend the OSCE meeting in North Macedonia if Bulgaria opened its airspace to the Russian delegation's planes.

"Bulgaria has apparently promised Macedonia it will open its airspace. If that happens, we will be there," Lavrov said.

Meanwhile, European Commission Spokesperson Peter Stano said Lavrov's attendance would not violate European sanctions against Russia.

"Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov can travel to an EU country or North Macedonia, despite being on the European list of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. EU countries can allow Lavrov's plane to fly over as can authorities in Skopje issue permission for landing," Stano said.

According to him, Lavrov's participation in the meeting would not be a violation of the sanctions but instead an "opportunity to stand face to face with Lavrov and discuss the lies he has been spreading," Stano said at a briefing in Brussels.

He said the summit would also provide a chance for the EU to present its vision and any of those under sanctions could decide to change their destructive ways.

Photo: EPA