Events

MINSK, 21 January (BelTA) – Belarus has urged the international community to document the support for family values in the final documents of the First Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Post-2015 Development Agenda. The session is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York on 19-21 January, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.

“The Belarusian delegation is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Valentin Rybakov. He spoke at the session on behalf of the Group of Friends of the Family in New York. He noted in his address that family is an important factor of sustainable development worldwide and should be supported by society and state. The countries making part of the Group of Friends of the Family deem it necessary to document the support for family values and acknowledgement of the important role of the family in the final documents of the session,” the press service informed.

The Foreign Ministry noted that Belarus had suggested making a joint statement on the matter during the December 2014 meeting in the UN on the protection of the interests and values of the traditional family. The statement was made by 18 countries: Bangladesh, Belarus, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Turkmenistan, Yemen and Zimbabwe. That was the first address of the newly formed Group of Friends of the Family at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry said that Valentin Rybakov met with President of the United Nations General Assembly Sam Kutesa on 20 January. The parties discussed preparations for the Special Summit on Sustainable Development in New York in September 2015 where the Post-2015 Development Agenda is to be passed.

Valentin Rybakov and Sam Kutesa also discussed Belarus’ contribution to the collective effort of the UN member states to strengthen the role of the UN General Assembly.

The Belarusian diplomat urged the President of the UN General Assembly to ensure proper celebration of the events related to the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the foundation of the United Nations. Valentin Rybakov underlined the important role of the President of the UN General Assembly in the preparations and urged him to support the related initiatives of the UN member states.