Ministerial conference
Baerbock: Don’t allow Russia to destroy the OSCE
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the meeting of the 30th Council of Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. photo
© Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is intended to reduce tensions. But Moscow has plunged the OSCE into a deep crisis. Russia’s Foreign Minister reacts as usual.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock invited the members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) called on Russia to oppose the blockade. Cooperation must be strengthened, “even though Russia has put massive obstacles in the way of the OSCE’s work over the last year and a half,” said the Green politician on Thursday on the sidelines of the annual ministerial conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). ) in the North Macedonian capital Skopje. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed the OSCE crisis exclusively on the West.
In the OSCE, decisions can only be made with the consensus of all 57 member countries. With its veto policy, Russia prevented the Baltic NATO state Estonia from taking over the OSCE chairmanship in 2024. It was only on Monday that a diplomatic agreement was reached with the neutral state of Malta. The compromise solution is to be formally approved in Skopje.
Baerbock criticized: “The Russian government’s perfidious game is and was to destroy organizations that rely on peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.” The OSCE stands for the security of more than 1.3 billion people like no other organization. Baerbock said: “Saving the OSCE means protecting our people. That is our responsibility.”
Baerbock demanded an immediate end to the war against Ukraine from Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Stop the untold suffering you are bringing to millions of people,” she said. Lavrov was not in the room at the time of Baerbock’s speech. Baerbock criticized that, as at other meetings, the Russian was obviously only in the room “when he speaks himself, but not to listen to others.”
Lavrov: OSCE “appendage” of NATO and EU
Lavrov made it clear that, from Russia’s perspective, the OSCE’s deep crisis was solely the fault of Western states. “The OSCE is becoming an appendage of NATO and the European Union. The organization is on the brink of the abyss,” he said. The “Western political elite” has decided in favor of eastern NATO expansion and thus against the OSCE. Several delegates from other countries walked out of the hall during Lavrov’s appearance. After his speech, Lavrov also left the conference room.
Ministers from Ukraine and Baltic states stay away because of Lavrov
The foreign ministers of Ukraine and the three Baltic states stayed away from the meeting in protest at Lavrov’s presence. Almost all of the 57 OSCE states are of the opinion that Russia’s veto stance and the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine are to blame for the fact that the OSCE has severely lost its ability to act as a platform for peace, democracy and dialogue.
Baerbock warns Russia of a “full blockade”
Baerbock said that in order to maintain the OSCE’s ability to function, it is urgently necessary to extend the terms of office of Secretary General Helga Schmid and the OSCE representatives for democracy, media freedom and minorities. Turning to Russia, she added: “If a compromise is needed, then we are ready. But compromises of compromises are no longer compromises, but rather a complete blockade.” Schmid and her three colleagues would have to vacate their positions at the beginning of December without an extension.
According to a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry in Vienna, Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg spoke to Lavrov about the personnel package on the sidelines of the conference at the request of the OSCE. As the organization’s home state, Austria has a special responsibility, it was said.
OSCE Secretary General speaks of a threatening lack of money
According to Secretary General Schmid, the OSCE is struggling with a threatening lack of money. The organization only averted bankruptcy this year thanks to donations from member states. The financial resources are “no longer sustainable”. “You can’t run an organization like that,” Schmid complained, without addressing Russia directly. Moscow is also blocking the OSCE budget.