Washington, 30 November 2023 (TDI): The United States Secretary Antony Blinken participated in the Organization of Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), where more than 50 countries arrived in North Macedonia on Wednesday.
In this regard, few of them rejected this event due to the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In a critical juncture for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), ministers from its 57 member countries will assemble in Skopje on Thursday.
The regional security body, established in 1975 as a bridge between the Eastern and Western blocs, confronts its most significant crisis to date due to heightened tensions arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joins the meeting to garner support for Ukraine, emphasizing Malta’s recent agreement to assume the organization’s rotating presidency next year.
The OSCE encounters roadblocks as Russia exercises its veto power, blocking essential decisions such as the organization’s budget. Amid this turmoil, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and now Poland have declared a boycott of the annual ministerial conference following the invitation extended to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Despite the boycott, North Macedonia, the current OSCE presidency holder, has chosen to include Lavrov, aligning with a commitment to maintaining multilateralism.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the OSCE, President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen highlights the difficulty of maintaining human rights on the agenda within the consensus-based organization.
Despite these challenges, Michael Carpenter, the US ambassador to the OSCE, asserts the organization’s resilience, finding workarounds to showcase Russia’s isolation and prevent its undermining.
As the OSCE releases reports on alleged war crimes in Ukraine and continues its election observer missions globally, the organization remains steadfast in its commitment to relevance.
An OSCE spokesperson emphasized, “The OSCE’s role is now more important than ever and remains invaluable to so many people across the region.”
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