Events

MINSK, 31 October (BelTA) – Andrei Metelitsa, the head of the legal department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, took part in a meeting of the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly (legal matters) and the events of International Law Week at the UN, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

When speaking at the Sixth Committee meeting, Andrei Metelitsa made a number of observations on the reports by the International Law Commission regarding the protection of people in the event of disasters, identification of customary international law, interpretation of international treaties, crimes against humanity, protection of the atmosphere, peremptory norms, and immunities of high-ranking officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction.

“Andrei Metelitsa stressed that Belarus considers it essential to respect the sovereignty of states, and to guide by law rather than political expedience in international relations,” the press service said. It is expected that the comments made by Belarus will be reflected in the draft international legal documents developed by the Commission.

During his visit to New York, the Belarusian diplomat discussed topical matters of bilateral relations and the issues on the current agenda in international law with his colleagues from Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Russia, the Czech Republic, the Council of Europe.

Andrei Metelitsa met with Mr Miguel de Serpa Soares, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, to consider a draft agreement between Belarus and the United Nations on the organization of joint activities, including the event on international trade law in Minsk. The parties considered other issues of legal cooperation between Belarus and the United Nations Secretariat.

Andrei Metelitsa also met with Mr Santiago Villalpando, the head of Treaty Section of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, to discuss the ways of enhancing the depositary practice and expanding the use of information technologies in the work with international treaties.