Skopje, 4 January 2023 (MIA) – The OSCE Chairpersonship will conclude with the largest conference that has ever been organized in North Macedonia. Over 70 ministers of foreign affairs will arrive in Skopje, from the foreign affairs departments of the US, Russia, all European countries and Asian countries, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani at a media briefing Wednesday, at which he announced that the OSCE Chairpersonship will cost the country five million euro.

The Minister said they have already begun major preparations since OSCE has certain rules regarding the standards which must be fulfilled. Osmani noted he believes that the Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall in Skopje could be able to meet the security needs for the conference.

“The money spent is not on PR. The OSCE Chairpersonship will end with the largest conference that has ever been held in the country, over 70 ministers will attend. We lack the appropriate building which can host this event, but we decided that with the appropriate upgrades, the event can be held at the Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall. We also lack the necessary number of vehicles to transport the dignitaries and we are currently looking for ways to solve this,” said Osmani.

Osmani said he believes that the benefits from the chairpersonship will be greater than the expenses.

“We have expenses on a daily basis. We have a large mission in Vienna, over 11 people, maybe each of them spends this amount yearly in terms of accommodation and wages, however this is an investment that we have undertaken and it will lead to prestige and great recognition of the country. It is a great privilege and opportunity to be unanimously chosen by 56 countries to lead the organization in its most difficult year. So yes, there will be large expenses during this process, but we will attempt to minimize them,” said Osmani.

He added that they are looking for ways to find sponsors for the ministerial vehicles, so as to avoid expenses. Some expenses, he said, will depend on whether we find sponsors or not.

“Around five million euro are allocated in the budget. Initially we asked for eight million because we believed that we would need five million for the event itself. However, the Ministry of Finance gave us around five million and we will have to adapt to these funds when it comes to the events and the conference,” said Minister Osmani. ad/nn/