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Lavrov should attend OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Skopje, says Austrian foreign minister

"I feel it is right to invite the Russian foreign minister. This organization is needed for the future," Alexander Schallenberg said

VIENNA, November 18. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov should travel to Skopje to attend the OSCE Ministerial Council, Austrian European and International Affairs Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in an interview with the La Presse newspaper.

"This decision should be made at the OSCE summit in Skopje at the end of the month. I feel it is right to invite the Russian foreign minister. This organization is needed for the future," Schallenberg said when asked about the prolongation of North Macedonia’s chairmanship of the OSCE in 2024.

Schallenberg was also asked about the probability of his talks with Lavrov in Skopje.

"If such a chance emerges, yes. The OSCE is a different body. I cannot engage in foreign policy, holding talks with only Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Europe should have learned one thing: we need to have a pragmatic and sober look at the world as long as we want to solve problems," he said in response.

According to Schallenberg, Estonia will not withdraw its bid for the OSCE chairmanship in 2024. Therefore, the Austrian foreign minister believes that it "makes sense" to extend the current chairmanship of North Macedonia for another year.

Earlier, Russia and Belarus objected to Estonia’s candidacy as the OSCE chairmanship in 2024. Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich said that Estonia would not achieve the consensus needed for its election. He emphasized that Moscow and Minsk find Tallinn’s candidacy unacceptable, since it is "a very hostile" country that "carries out a totally unfriendly policy." According to the diplomat, such a country merely cannot, for objective reasons, lead a pan-European organization, which acts based on consideration for the interests of all 57 states.

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Sergey Lavrov Austria

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