(ANSA-AFP) - VIENNA, NOV 30 - Ministers of the world's
largest regional security body are to meet Thursday in Skopje as
the 57-member organisation faces its most serious crisis since
its creation as tensions from Russia's invasion of Ukraine
remain heightened. The Organisation for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been struggling to survive as
Russia is blocking decisions, such as the organisation's budget.
Created in 1975 as a forum for dialogue between the Eastern and
Western blocs, the organisation -- of which both Russia and
Ukraine are part -- has been operating with extra budgetary
means, but tensions are running high. Ukraine, as well as
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have already said they would
boycott the annual ministerial conference after the invitation
of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who said he plans to
attend. Poland joined the boycotters on Wednesday, with Foreign
Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek saying: "We just cannot
ignore the fact that the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs
will be present at the table of the organisation that is
supposed to build peace and security in Europe". US Secretary of
State Antony Blinken will attend the meeting to seek to rally
support for Ukraine. (ANSA-AFP).
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