By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) – The 31st Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) began in Malta on Thursday with calls for Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine.
Malta's Foreign Minister Ian Borg, spoke out strongly against Russia's war in Ukraine during the opening ceremony, calling on Moscow to withdraw troops from internationally recognized Ukrainian territories and end the war.
"The recent escalations and attacks must cease immediately, paving the way for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace through diplomacy," he stressed.
Borg also urged Russia to unconditionally release three OSCE staff members, including Vadym Golda, Maxim Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov, detained in April 2022.
He also highlighted the OSCE's challenges, which include the absence of senior leadership since September, unresolved budgetary issues since 2021, and broader security threats in the region.
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pia Kuma emphasized that the war can only be ended if Russia respects the Helsinki Final Act and withdraws from Ukraine.
The summit saw the arrival of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marking his first visit to the EU since the war in Ukraine began.
While the EU has sanctioned Lavrov, including an asset freeze, he does not face a travel ban, allowing him to attend the OSCE meeting.
According to the Polish state-run PAP news agency, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski left the OSCE meeting during his Russian counterpart’s speech.
Sikorski left the room in protest of Lavrov's presence, telling the media he "will not listen to Lavrov's lies," PAP reported.
Delegations from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the Czech Republic also staged a walkout during Lavrov's presentation, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, among others, remaining in the hall, the news agency said.