Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei participates in the UN General Assembly Session Events

22-09-2016

On September 21, 2016 during the High Level Segment of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, held a number of bilateral meetings.

At the meeting with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Miro Kovač, the parties agreed on speedy establishment of the Intergovernmental Belarusian-Croatian Commission on economic and trade cooperation, as envisaged by the bilateral agreement on economic cooperation. The sides expressed their support to the practice of political consultations between the two ministries and discussed further cooperation in the framework of international organisations. M.Kovach informed about the consent of the Croatian Government on the appointment of Honorary Consul of Belarus in the city of Rijeka.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea, Osman Saleh Mohammed, informed the Head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry on the political situation in his country. The sides agreed that country-specific resolutions should not be used as a pretext to intervene in the domestic affairs of sovereign states. The Ministers agreed to speed up bilateral political, economic and trade cooperation.

During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Foreign Minister of Belarus highlighted Germany’s role in strengthening the process of normalization of relations between Belarus and the European Union. The Ministers exchanged opinions on the regional situation and on advancing cooperation within the OSCE on European security issues. The sides discussed possibility of holding a series of joint events this year which, in the opinion of both Ministers, will expand the positive atmosphere in bilateral relations.

At the meeting with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, V.Makei has confirmed the existing interest in advancing cooperation between Belarus and the Council of Europe in various areas. V.Makei stressed the importance to involve Belarusian experts to the meetings of the organs of the Council of Europe. The sides underscored the significance of broader participation of Belarus in the Council’s legal instruments.

On the same day, Foreign Minister of Belarus took part in the ministerial meeting at the UN headquarters in New York in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Background Information: The Treaty was adopted in 1996 in order to ban all nuclear tests and explosions but has not yet entered into force. Of the countries whose ratification of the CTBT is needed for its entry into force, India, Pakistan and DPRK have not signed the agreement. Five countries (China, Egypt, Israel, Iran, and the United States) signed but have not ratified it.

In the statement on the occasion of the meeting, Belarus expressed full support for international efforts to ban nuclear testing and achieve nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The decision by Belarus 20 years ago to renounce nuclear weapons is cited as an example of responsible governance that can advance nuclear weapon-free world.

As an outcome of the meeting, the participants adopted a joint statement envisaging further international efforts to achieve early entry into force of the CTBT.

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