The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau warned of the threat of war in Europe. The statement followed at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday, January 13, dedicated to security issues in Europe, in particular, the crisis around Ukraine and the RF requirements for “security guarantees.” “The threat of war in the OSCE region now appears to be greater than at any time in the past 30 years,” Rau said.
“The crisis threatens the stability of the entire European system”
The diplomat addressed representatives of 57 countries, including Russia and the United States, and called for the use of the OSCE format to reduce regional tensions.
The current crisis “threatens the stability and security of the entire European system,” stressed Zbigniew Rau. He added that the organization is a suitable platform for discussing the security problems of a number of states and for the transition to confidence-building measures.
US ambassador doubts concrete results
US Permanent Representative to the OSCE Michael Carpenter, in turn, expressed doubt that this week in the format of the organization “concrete results will be achieved.” “Our main goal is, in principle, to establish a dialogue,” he stressed.
“Only in the OSCE can we sit down at the same table (with an equal vote of all 57 participating States) to discuss ways to strengthen security in accordance with fundamental principles and commitments, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, inviolability of each other’s borders and non-use force or force threats, “added Carpenter.
Russian spokesman warned the West against trying to drag out negotiations
Meanwhile, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, warned the West against attempts to drag out negotiations on the security issue and warned that Russia will take measures to eliminate threats if there is no response in the foreseeable future. “We want to openly and honestly warn you: any attempts to” roll up “a meaningful negotiation process on security guarantees within the framework of the dialogue between Russia and the United States and NATO or to emasculate it to the point of a senseless exchange of positions” in a circle “are fraught with an inevitable deterioration of the security situation of all states without exception,” – Lukashevich said at a special session of the Permanent Council.
“Diplomatic Marathon”
The first meeting of the NATO-Russia Council since 2019 was held in Brussels on January 12. The negotiations were attended by representatives of 30 countries of the North Atlantic Alliance and the Secretary General of the organization Jens Stoltenberg. The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Alexander Grushko, which included Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin. The United States was represented, in particular, by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, while other NATO countries were represented by their special envoys to the alliance or other officials.
Prior to that, on January 10, Sherman held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Geneva. These meetings were also devoted to the crisis over Ukraine and Moscow’s demands for “security guarantees” to Russia from the United States and NATO.
The crisis around Ukraine and Russia’s demands
In November 2021, there were reports that Russia had transferred about 100 thousand troops to the annexed Crimea and to the border with Ukraine. Kiev and Western leaders fear Moscow is preparing for another invasion of Ukraine.
Russia denies such intentions and, in turn, accuses Western countries of arming Ukraine and conducting maneuvers near the borders of the Russian Federation. Moscow demands “security guarantees,” including NATO’s refusal to expand to the east and admit Ukraine to its membership, from conducting military activities on the territory of Eastern Europe, Transcaucasia and Central Asia, as well as refusing to deploy medium and short-range missiles in positions from which they can infect the territory of other parties to the agreement.
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