Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed a desire to participate in the upcoming Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), scheduled to be held in Skopje, North Macedonia at the end of November.

North Macedonia currently holds the OSCE presidency, and the request from Russia was confirmed by Bujar Osmani, the Macedonian Foreign Minister, on November 6.

Osmani revealed that he had received a letter from Lavrov in which the Russian Foreign Minister formally requested attendance at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting.

However, there are logistical challenges associated with this request since the airspace over North Macedonia and its neighboring countries is closed to Russian state flights. As a result, addressing these logistical issues is necessary to facilitate Lavrov’s participation.

Osmani emphasized that typically, all member countries are expected to take part in the OSCE Council, but the final decision will depend on the outcomes of discussions in the coming days. Osmani expressed his hope that all parties can successfully convene in Skopje.

The Macedonian Foreign Minister also noted that the OSCE, which has been in existence for 50 years, is currently grappling with a severe crisis. This crisis is marked by a budget blockage that has persisted since 2021 and the failure to appoint leaders to key positions within the organization.

Additionally, due to Russia’s stance, no presiding state has been designated for the year 2024.

Osmani pointed out that the OSCE itself (with Russia as a member) played a role in the aggression against Ukraine. Consequently, trust among participating nations has reached an historically low level. This has led to challenges in reaching consensus on decisions within the OSCE, not only in terms of political decisions but also with regard to fundamental functions of the organization. For the first time, the OSCE is facing a situation where a chairman for the upcoming year is yet to be appointed.

The OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, scheduled for November 30 and December 1, is expected to see participation from 76 delegations, including 57 from OSCE member states and additional partner countries.

Bujar Osmani, the Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, expressed his hope that ministers from some of the world’s most influential states, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, will attend the event.