Russian FM Lavrov sees 'complete degradation' of OSCE after attending Skopje summit

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(1 Dec 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Skopje, North Macedonia – 1 December 2023
1. Wide of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arriving at news conference on the sidelines of OSCE meeting
2. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:
“Neither the Ukrainian minister nor the ministers of Poland and the Baltic countries were present at this event. He left, as far as I understand, (U.S. Secretary of State Antony) Blinken and (EU foreign affairs chief, Josep) Borrell also left. Why is this happening? Well, they probably believe that by doing so they underline their intention to isolate Russia, but I believe it’s a show of cowardice, they fear an honest, fact-based talk."
3. Wide of Lavrov listening to question from reporter
4. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:
“We can see a complete degradation of everything that has been created at the OSCE, and as part of previous meetings on security and cooperation in Europe earlier, a degradation of everything that has been created through all three security dimensions – the political and military politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human.”
5. Wide of journalist asking question
6. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:
“Now, while we are talking here, there (in the OSCE) is some minor bargaining about whether to extend or not (the authority) all these people who head the OSCE institutions and who have skimped on their direct responsibilities, directly violating the principles on which the organisation is based, where they were appointed to provide various tracks of its activities. They are now fighting to extend (the authority of) each other, all these commissioners for media and other affairs, they are trying to extend (the authority) for nine months, one year. And because of this, there is now petty fuss, which has nothing to do with the deepest crisis of this organisation."
7. Wide of Lavrov listening to question
8. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:
“Until now we aren’t seeing any signals from Kyiv or its masters about their readiness to any kind of political settlement. We are not seeing it. Moreover, (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy signed a special decree prohibiting talks with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s government a year and a half ago. This is a matter for the courts. He is not going to cancel it."
9. Wide of journalist asking question
10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:
“Like in tango, you need two to start a political process, but the guys on the other side are dancing not tango, but break-dance that is solo."
11. Wide of Lavrov leaving news conference
STORYLINE:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that he had seen a "complete degradation of everything that has been created at the OSCE" after attending the latest summit in Skopje.

Lavrov claimed Moscow can see "a degradation of everything that has been created through all three security dimensions – the political and military politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human.”

North Macedonia, which joined NATO in 2020, waived a flight ban on Russian officials so that Lavrov could attend the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, prompting the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to skip the meeting in protest.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a brief stop in North Macedonia’s capital of Skopje before Lavrov arrived.

Participants at the two-day conference accused Moscow of undermining the OSCE.









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