Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, in his capacity as the current Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), visited Moscow Feb. 5-6 for meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, his first visit to Russia in close to seven years. He was accompanied by OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu, which meant, as Lavrov said, that the talks will be “even more focused and substantial.”
During the visit, Cassis and Lavrov laid flowers at the Tomb of Russia’s Unknown Soldier (with ceremonial guard and all, and the two exchanged gifts. Cassis gave Lavrov a music box which plays a Tchaikovsky piece, “so that they remember that Russia is part of Europe.” Lavrov handed him a music box with an image of the Kremlin, “so that they remember that Russia is part of history.”
Lavrov stated in his welcome that Russia appreciated that Switzerland, having assumed the Chairmanship-in-Office of the OSCE, “has shown interest in resuming a meaningful diplomatic conversation with the Russian Federation.” Informal discussions were held the first day, followed by an official meeting the next, and it was agreed that no joint press conference would be held afterwards.
At their conclusion, Lavrov characterized the talks as “candid,” but productive, concluding with “an agreement to maintain contact.” Both interlocutors “have a desire to try to overcome” the current crisis in the OSCE, from which Russia is de facto excluded, in his view.
