MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Russia continues to prepare for Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Skopje on November 30 - December 1 for a meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council despite the attempts of certain Western countries to hinder it, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
"The visit is being prepared. Everything is being done to ensure constructive work at the Ministerial Council meeting," Zakharova said at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Moscow is observing attempts of the United States and certain Western countries "to do everything to hinder Russia's normal participation" in the forum, she said.
The Western nations at the OSCE demonstrate a mixed approach: some realize that the organization is "on the brink of collapse" and are ready to work to prevent it, while others "are willing to gamble with the organization's existence just to satisfy their sick ambitions," she said.
A number of Russian journalists were not allowed to cover the Russian delegation's participation in the meeting, Zakharova said.
The OSCE Ministerial Council meeting will take place in Skopje on November 30 - December 1. Lavrov said earlier that Bulgaria had promised North Macedonia to temporary open the national airspace for the Russian delegation's plane. Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia said they would not take part in the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting if Lavrov participates in it. The decision will have no effect on the future of the organization, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told reporters on Tuesday.