“They are afraid of any honest conversation”: Lavrov reacted to the escape of Blinken and Borrell from the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers

Sergei Lavrov

Photo: REUTERS

We are observing a complete degradation of everything that was created in the OSCE and before in the framework of meetings on security and cooperation in Europe. This was stated by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, following the results of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CMFA) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), responding to a question from KP.RU.

This Monday in Moscow at the Primakov Lectures, the Russian Foreign Minister noted that the chances of saving the OSCE are slim. “Now, following the conclusion of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting, have these possibilities increased or, on the contrary, have they been further reduced?” – I asked Lavrov.

– The possibilities have increased, but not of preserving the OSCE. Today this feeling is increasingly stronger, the most important feeling is indifference. The organization has already become something that, for example, leaves me indifferent to what will happen next,” the minister responded.

Fear of an honest conversation

Lavrov was also asked if he felt isolated in Skopje. “My colleague, Secretary of State Blinken, escaped. “I didn’t escape anywhere,” the minister stressed. He drew attention to the fact that neither Antony Blinken nor the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, were present at the official part of the Council of Ministers.

– Why is this happening? They probably believe that by doing so they emphasize their intention to isolate Russia. But I think they are simply cowards, afraid of any honest conversation with the facts at hand,” Lavrov emphasized.

Zakharova asked to tell Annalena

The interest of almost two hundred journalists accredited to the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje in what Lavrov said was obviously much greater than in the statements of the other participants in this Council. German Foreign Minister Annalena Bärbock couldn’t stand it. I tried to be sarcastic.

“The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov, appears in the room only when he speaks himself and not to listen to others,” said a senior German diplomat.

In response, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said: “For some reason, a year ago, she did not care at all that Sergei Lavrov did not appear in the room, since the Polish presidency did not sent to Russia. an invitation to the meeting. It’s a shame that she didn’t say earlier that she so wanted to admire Lavrov in the salon. Then the NATO countries, understanding his sadness, would not interfere with the arrival of the Russian delegation to international forums.

– If necessary, tell Annalena that all the speeches of the Council of Ministers are broadcast online and you can listen to everyone anywhere in the world. But acting can only be done in the room,” Zakharova added, apparently addressing Western journalists.

“Chastity belt” for Ukraine

Furthermore, this is the second time in the last three days that Berbock has not given our Foreign Ministry the opportunity to ignore his statements. On the eve of the Skopje Ministerial Council, he asked NATO to create a kind of “winter shield” over Ukraine.

Journalists asked Zakharova to comment on this Berbock proposal.

– I can rarely be perplexed. The “quality” of the appointment contributes to this. I wonder if, from Burbock’s point of view, there should be a “winter shield”, should there be, in your opinion, some kind of “summer chain mail”, “autumn armor” or “chastity belt of spring”? Whats Next? I can’t even tell what he’s talking about. I hope he stays firm in his positions and can’t turn them 360 degrees. “Nothing more can be said here,” replied the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

– Sergei Lavrov’s press conference in Skopje lasted almost an hour and a half. The Western media is no longer interested in Ukraine, even in the form of anti-Russian provocations. The topic was turned off.

But we will not leave Zelensky alone,” Zakharova said in Skopje, summarizing the results of the two days of work of the Russian delegation in Skopje.