1.Mr Chair, please allow us to take the floor now in order to ensure that our point is heard by all participating States, which is sadly not a given anymore in this Forum.
2.The EU and its Member States condemn the blatant threatening and unacceptable language expressed in the statement made by the Russian Federation last week.What is being exhibited here is the exact opposite of diplomacy.
3.We urge Russia to end its current disrespectful and obstructive conduct and engage constructively in this unique Forum. We should recognise that this Forum is valuable for all 57 participating States.
Thank you.

The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA, the EFTA countries ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN and NORWAY, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.
*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.