Events

12 Apr 2023

Belarus, UN discuss regional security, consequences of sanctions

Yuri Ambrazevich. Photo courtesy of Belarus' Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MINSK, 12 April (BelTA) – Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Ambrazevich held a meeting with President of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Korosi on 11 April, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The parties discussed international and regional security issues in the context of the armed conflict in Ukraine and its impact on global sustainable development.

Yuri Ambrazevich also informed the president of the UN General Assembly about the international conference on the security prospects in Eurasia that is due to be held in Minsk in the second half of 2023 as part of Belarus' presidency in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

“The deputy minister also drew the president’s attention to the negative consequences of unilateral sanctions illegally imposed by Western countries against the Belarusian potash industry on global food security. He cited studies of several international institutions, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Bank, indicating that the decline in Belarusian potash supplies to the global market exacerbates the international food insecurity,” the ministry stressed.

To further develop contacts with the UN secretary-general, Yuri Ambrazevich met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua. Yuri Ambrazevich informed the UN under-secretary-general about Belarus’ progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the national level, emphasizing the detrimental impact of unilateral economic measures on the sustainable development of any state and on global trade.

“In the context of export restrictions on Belarusian potash fertilizers and their negative impact on global food security, he additionally called for the elimination of the practice of unilateral coercive measures,” the ministry stressed.

Special attention during the meeting was drawn to the discrimination of Belarusian athletes, including Paralympic athletes. “The under-secretary-general confirmed the intention of the UN to defend the principle of non-discrimination as much as possible on any platforms and in any formats,” the ministry said.

The Belarusian deputy minister of foreign affairs met with Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ivana Zivkovic to discuss current and prospective cooperation with the UNDP aimed at the priority areas of the economic and social development. “The efforts of Belarus in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals have been praised. The parties confirmed their readiness to continue cooperation both within the framework of the UNDP Country Programme for Belarus and at the regional level,” the Belarusian ministry of foreign affairs stressed.



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