- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

OSCE Among Very Few Platforms for Direct Dialogue With Russia - German Official

© REUTERS / Fabian BimmerGerman Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) welcomes his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council organized by Germany's OSCE Chairmanship in Hamburg, Germany December 8, 2016
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) welcomes his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council organized by Germany's OSCE Chairmanship in Hamburg, Germany December 8, 2016 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is continuing to be one of very few platforms, where the direct dialogue between the West and Moscow is possible, the German government's special representative for the OSCE Chairmanship, Gernot Erler, said Thursday.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) welcomes his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council organized by Germany's OSCE Chairmanship in Hamburg, Germany December 8, 2016. - Sputnik International
Berlin Urges Moscow to Work With OSCE to Reduce Tension in Europe
HAMBURG (Sputnik) — He added that the presence of the OSCE observers in the crisis-torn eastern part of Ukraine allowed to elucidate the situation in the region, while the OSCE actions allowed to prevent the spread of the conflict and to decrease the number of casualties.

"The OSCE is still one of very few organizations, where the dialogue between the West and Russia is still taking place. That's why we are committed to use this opportunity. The negotiations started yesterday, they will continue by tomorrow noon in the presence of almost 50 ministers from 57 OSCE member states. I doubt that there is another platform, where such a dialogue could take place," Erler, who is also the German government's point man for Russia and Central Asia, told reporters.

Since 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. Washington and their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea became part of Russia in 2014 and over Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability.

The 23rd Ministerial Council of the OSCE kicked off earlier in the day and is expected to wrap up on Friday. The event has gathered together diplomats from the OSCE participating states, including Russia and Germany, as well as from 11 partners for cooperation to discuss major security issues.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала