OREANDA-NEWS  Russia refused to participate in the conference, which was organized on the initiative of the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Helga Maria Schmid in violation of the rules of procedure of the OSCE, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the organization reported.

"In connection with the initiative of OSCE Secretary General H. Schmid to hold the so-called "OSCE High-level Conference on Climate Change" on July 7, 2023, we would like to state the following: this event cannot be called an "OSCE Conference". The OSCE Rules of Procedure clearly specify the parameters for convening official events: "The Participating States decide on the time, place, topic, agenda, work schedule and organizational conditions for each OSCE meeting." This has not been done," the Russian Permanent Mission said in a statement.

In this regard, it is noted that "Russia will not take part in such a dubious gathering, and any references to the results of the discussions held within its framework will be null and void."

It is clarified that, since there was no joint decision of the OSCE participants regarding the holding of the conference, according to the rules of procedure, such an event cannot be called an "OSCE meeting".