Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross

08-11-2017

On November 8, 2017 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer, who is currently on a working visit to Minsk. This is the first visit to our country of the Head of the Organization in the history of cooperation between Belarus and the ICRC.

During the meeting, the parties discussed a number of issues of bilateral relations of mutual interest, as well as exchanged views on the current humanitarian situation in the world. Special attention was paid to the positive experience of Belarus' interaction with the ICRC on the delivery of humanitarian cargo to the conflict areas in the East of Ukraine, as well as to the provision of humanitarian assistance to Syria's children and other countries, when needed. 

The Head of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry noted that Belarus considers the International Committee of the Red Cross as a responsible partner. “By preserving peace and stability on our territory, Belarus intends to actively cooperate with the ICRC and help restore peace, where it is necessary”, – underlined V.Makei. 

The Minister expressed his confidence that the first visit of the ICRC President to Belarus will become a starting point for a new, even more productive stage of relations between Belarus and the Committee.

Following the negotiations, the sides signed Agreement on the status, privileges and immunities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Republic of Belarus between the Republic of Belarus and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which creates legal basis for operation of the ICRC office in our country.

In addition, V.Makei and the Secretary General of the Belarusian Red Cross Society, Olga Mychko, signed the Memorandum of understanding, outlining main areas of cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Belarusian Red Cross Society.

русская версия     беларуская версія

print version